Maxi boosts Espanyol's Euro hopes
 |  Maxi hit Espanyol's winner with a fierce 65th minute shot |
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MADRID, Spain -- Argentine striker Maxi Rodriguez scored his 11th goal of the season to give Espanyol a 2-1 win over Levante and keep alive his side's hopes of a Champions League place next season
Jose Emilio Amavisca also scored as Espanyol rose to third place, their highest position since mid-December, when they were second.
In other games involving top-10 teams, Villarreal drew 1-1 with last-placed Numancia, while Real Betis drew 2-2 with Getafe.
Espanyol overcame an early deficit at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium after Levante striker Sergio Garcia, on loan from Barcelona, scored in the 24th minute.
Former Spanish international Amavisca equalized with a low, angled shot five minutes later, and Maxi hit the winner with a fierce shot from the edge of the area in the 65th minute.
Villarreal started confidently at Numancia, with Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme scoring in the 28th minute following a strong run down the right wing by forward Jose Mari Romero.
Numancia battled back after the interval, and midfielder Carlos Merino equalized on the hour when he turned home a free kick by Miguel Perez.
Real Betis had Getafe goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses to thank for two crucial errors which gave it a 2-2 home draw.
Angel Vivar Dorado gave Getafe the lead in the 16th minute and defender David Rivas headed in the equalizer 12 minutes later after Aragoneses made a rash burst from his goal.
A spectacular long-range volley by Argentine defender Mariano Pernia restored Getafe's lead in the 48th minute only for Aragoneses to make a second gaffe by allowing Marcos Assuncao's free kick through his hands seven minutes later.
Mallorca's Argentine striker Bernardo Romeo scored the winner in the 55th minute, his second goal of the game, to earn the relegation-threatened side a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad, its first in four games.
The two teams each scored twice in the opening 20 minutes with Mikel Aranburu and Gari Uranga tallying for the visitors and Romeo and Luis Garcia replying for the home team.
Zaragoza defender Manuel "Capi" Calbar scored in his league debut to bring his team a 1-0 win over struggling Racing Santander.
