Rayo Vallecano have enhanced their chances of staving off relegation from La Liga with a 4-1 home victory over Malaga, who ended the game with 10 men.

The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute through Yago Falque and doubled their advantage just two minutes later when Anaitz Arbilla found the target with a deflected effort from the edge of the box.

Things went from bad to worse for Malaga on the stroke of half time. Sergio Sanchez was sent off for pulling down Joaquin Larrivey inside the box, and the Rayo forward himself successfully converted the resulting spot kick.

Falque made it 4-0 to the Madrid outfit after the hour mark, and although Oleksandr Yakovenko pulled one back for the visitors, it proved to be too little too late for them.

The result means that Rayo remain second from bottom in the league table, but are now just two points from safety.

On the other hand, Malaga are only four points above the relegation zone in 13th.