VIGO, Spain (AP) — Celta Vigo beat Levante 2-0 in the Spanish league on Friday, dealing the visitors a fourth consecutive loss.
Brais Méndez struck in the 51st minute when the midfielder chipped a pass by Iago Aspas to gently lift it around goalkeeper Daniel Cárdenas.
Aspas had to be substituted because of an apparent leg injury shortly after the opener. His substitute Augusto Solari put the result beyond doubt in the 74th when he finished off a team buildup by rifling in a cross from Aarón Martín.
Celta also lost Renato Tapia and Jeison Murillo to apparent leg injuries.
Celta, which was in the relegation zone when coach Eduardo Coudet took over in November, moved into ninth place.
Méndez said Celta was not giving up on a possible Europa League spot with four rounds left after this weekend.
“We are playing well and fighting each game, so why not let ourselves dream of bigger things?” Méndez posed after his seventh goal of the season.
Levante's best threat came through right back Jorge de Frutos with his speed and crosses. But his teammates lacked their finishing touch in the box.
Levante slipped to 12th place.
“It is a painful loss. I think we played better than we have been. But it is a shame because we wanted to turn this around,” Levante’s Roger Martí said.
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