Villarreal 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano: Cedric Bakambu bags brace in Villarreal victory over Vallecano

Cedric Bakambu hit a late brace to hand Villarreal a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano and snatch a first win for Marcelino's side in four league games.

Rayo bossed the first half with their usual brand of possession football and took the lead through a sensational strike from midfielder Jozabed.

The visitors went looking for a second after the break but failed to find it despite creating good opportunities, and Bakambu struck twice in the space of 16 minutes to turn the game around, hitting the winner with five minutes remaining.

The Yellow Submarine leapfrogged Deportivo to take fifth place in the Primera Division, while Rayo slipped down to 15th. But both sides finished the game with worrying injuries to their players, Jonathan dos Santos coming off for the hosts with 12 minutes to go, while Paco Jemez's side lost Patrick Ebert midway through the first period.

Marcelino's side have struggled to find their feet in recent weeks and went into this fixture following a surprise defeat to Getafe and a loss to Segunda Division side Huesca in the Copa del Rey.

And they looked set for another disappointing outing when Jozabed put Rayo ahead shortly before half-time, receiving the ball outside the area from a throw in and letting fly from outside the area.

Javi Guerra and Diego Llorente both came close to doubling Rayo's advantage at the start of the second half but Villarreal survived and regained their composure as the visitors tired.

They levelled thanks to a combination of a fine through ball by Roberto Soldado and a deadly finish by Bakambu, and the 24-year-old completed the comeback by turning a cross from Denis Suarez in at the near post.