Spanish Primera Division report: Barral brilliant for Levante

David Barral fired a hat-trick as Levante moved off the foot of the Primera Division with a shock 4-1 win against Malaga on Saturday.

The Valencia-based side had not won any of their previous nine games but ended that run in emphatic fashion as Barral's treble, two of which came from the penalty spot, and a goal from Kalu Uche got them back to winning ways.

Juanmi had given Malaga the lead but that was as good as it got for Javi Gracia's men who are now six points adrift of a European spot.

Jordi Xumetra had the first effort for the home side but could only fire wide in a cagey start before Nacho Camacho's error allowed Juanmi to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

A flowing forward move had Malaga on the back foot and Camacho's attempted back-pass dropped straight into the path of Juanmi who rounded goalkeeper Diego Marino and finished high into the roof of the net.

Just three minutes later Levante were level but it was in controversial circumstances and Barral was at the centre of it.

The striker was on the very edge of the area when he appeared to go to ground easily under a challenge for Sergio Sanchez to win a free-kick.

The awarding of the set-piece may have been contentious but there was nothing wrong with the finish as Barral rifled the free-kick home despite Carlos Kameni getting his hands to it.

Kameni then produced a stunning save to turn Uche's header onto the bar on the half-hour but Barral gave his side the lead seven minutes later as he again won and converted a set piece.

The 31-year-old went up to challenge for a cross with Arthur Boka and came down in a heap with the referee pointing to the spot and Barral made no mistake as he stroked home to the keeper's left.

He completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 62nd minute and there was no doubt over the penalty this time as Sanchez's mistimed tackle saw Xumetra go tumbling.

Barral went to the keeper's right this time but the result was the same and it was 3-1.

The game was over as a contest 12 minutes later as Uche netted his first goal for the club since joining on transfer deadline day.

Roberto Camarasa fed Antonio Tono and his low cross through the six-yard box was just asking to be turned in, with Uche gleefully obliging.

Barral was looking for his fourth and fired over the bar with 10 minutes remaining but his substitution was the last of the action.