MADRID (AP) — Cadiz beat Girona 2-0 on Friday to escape the Spanish La Liga relegation zone.
The modest team from the south of Spain went from 18th to 15th place in the standings, after the first match of the date.
Valencia are in the bottom three places, in danger of relegation.
Midfielder Gonzalo Escalante and striker Sergi Guardiola, both of whom arrived this winter to reinforce Cadiz, scored for the home side.
Escalante controlled Brian Ocampo’s cross and shot to score the opener after six minutes. It was his second goal in three games with his new team.
Guardiola increased the lead in the 34th with an angled shot after Theo Bondonga staged a counterattack.
Coach Sergio González managed to knock Cadiz out of the relegation zone after a terrible start to the season with five straight losses without scoring. Since then, they have gone unbeaten at home in eight games. He had been in danger of relegation since the second meeting.
“We needed this win,” Guardiola said. “As I have said since I arrived, if we stick together, we will move forward.”
Girona remains in 11th position.