MADRID (AP) — Vedat Muriqui scored twice as relegation-threatened Mallorca defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 on Sunday, moving him closer to Kylian Mbappe as La Liga’s top scorer this season.
The Kosovo striker scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season in the league four minutes apart just before the end of the first half, moving him within two goals of Mbappe’s 23rd goal. The Real Madrid forward failed to score in a team match. 1-1 draw against Girona Although he scored on Friday, he has not scored in this competition since February.
Muriqui has scored three goals in the last two games against Mallorca. He also scored in his team’s 2-1 win against Madrid last weekend.
Jan Virgili was Mallorca’s other scorer on Sunday, who have won three of their last four games to move into 15th place, two points out of the drop zone.
With one win from five matches, Rajo remained in 13th place with a one point difference.
Betis held at Osasuna
Fifth-placed Real Betis drew 1-1 with mid-placed Osasuna, missing out on a chance to close the gap with the top four.
Abde Ezarzouri put Betis ahead in the 7th minute, and Ante Budimir leveled the score with a 40th-minute penalty. Betis have not won in seven league games, while Osasuna have won one in six.
Later on Sunday, sixth-placed Celta Vigo host relegation-threatened Oviedo, while third-placed Villarreal face mid-table Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona defeated Espanyol 4-1 at home on Saturday, increasing their lead over second-place Real Madrid to nine points after 31 matches.
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