Dani Parejo hit a double as Valencia beat Sevilla 3-1 in a highly-charged clash and moved above them into fourth place in La Liga on Sunday.

Both teams have their sights set on the final Champions League place and in a stormy match, with three penalties awarded in the first half, Valencia came out on top and have 41 points, two more than their rivals who have a game in hand.

With the top three teams all winning on Saturday, Real Madrid lead the standings with 48 points, one more than Barcelona and four clear of champions Atletico Madrid.

Parejo sent keeper Beto the wrong way after 18 minutes from the penalty spot following a foul by Diogo Figueiras on Alvaro Negredo, and he then finished clinically after 32 minutes having been found by Enzo Perez.

The tables were turned when Parejo was adjudged to have fouled Figueiras inside the penalty box and Carlos Bacca beat keeper Diego Alves with his spot-kick for Sevilla in the 37th minute.

Alves was soon showing off his ability to block the ball when he denied Bacca a second goal from the penalty spot five minutes before break. A Javi Fuego long-range drive sealed the victory.

Elsewhere, Malaga drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao after Javi Guerra’s 78th minute strike followed Mikel San Jose’s earlier effort for the Basque side.

A brace from Christian Stuani and another goal from Felipe Caicedo gave Espanyol, in ninth place, a 3-0 win over Almeria.