Granada pounds Levante 5-1 in relegation battle

Spanish football club Granada remained just above the drop zone after routing Levante 5-1 in a La Liga contest that was decided even before the half-time break.

Yousseff El Arabi scored a hat trick -- with two goals coming from the penalty spot -- for the hosts here on Thursday as Levante sank to last place in La Liga, five points from safety with only four matches to play, reports Efe.

Isaac Success and Ruben Rochina were the other scorers for Granada, while Ruben Garcia contributed the consolation goal for Levante.

Success started the scoring in the 25th minute, besting Levante goalkeeper Diego Mariño after taking a great pass from Ruben Perez.

El Arabi got his first of the night nine minutes later, converting from the spot after Jose Antonio Garcia was punished for blocking a Success header with his arm. Granada went into the break up 2-0.

Levante tried to pull themselves together before the break, but Success made an incredible play to set up Rochina for the third goal in the 44th minute.

The visitors managed a late rally, leading to Garcia's goal in the 82nd minute. Their hopes were shattered three minutes later when El Arabi scored again from the spot after yet another hand ball by Levante to make it 4-1.

The Moroccan completed his triple with a stoppage time goal on the counterattack against an opponent reduced to 10 men after Simao was booted for a second yellow card in the final minute of regulation time.

--IANS

sam/vt