Madrid, Dec 24 (IANS): In their last La Liga match of 2018, Rayo Vallecano downed Levante 2-1, thus pulling themselves a bit closer to the threshold where they could avoid relegation in the Spanish football league.

Levante wanted the win, too, however, because it would have put them at the door of the Europe League, reports Efe news.

The highlights included a great individual effort by Rayo's Alex Moreno, which led to an own goal by Toño Garcia, putting the home team on the board in the 23rd minute, and that's where the match stood at the intermission.

When play resumed, it was Rochina who got Levante into the game in the 59th minute with a goal for the visitors, tying the match at 1-1.

But it didn't take long for the home team to score the death sentence goal after Oier was forced to reject a shot, allowing De Tomas to score in the 66th minute, thus securing three ranking points for Rayo, although they remain in 19th - or next-to-last - position with 13 points. Levante, meanwhile, has 22 points and is in 10th place.