La Liga: Tony Adams' Granada on brink, Atletico Madrid slip up

Tony Adams saw his Granada side pushed closer towards relegation, while Atletico Madrid suffered a rare defeat.

Former England captain Adams has been parachuted into the dugout from his role as sporting director by Chinese owner Jiang Lizhang following a poor run under Lucas Alcaraz.

But the 50-year-old suffered his third straight defeat on Tuesday, a 2-0 home loss to Malaga leaving Granada seven points adrift of Leganes - who can extend the gap to 10 on Wednesday - with just four games left.

Former Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez continued his impressive first season with Malaga by scoring both goals, lashing into the bottom corner from range shortly after the restart, before punishing some sloppy defending in stoppage-time.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid suffered a blow in the race for a top-three finish as Roberto Soriano's late goal gave Villarreal a 1-0 win at the Vicente Calderon.

Diego Simeone's side were looking to keep themselves clear ahead of Sevilla in the battle for Champions League qualification but failed to make possession count and were made to pay when Italy forward Soriano converted a cross from fellow substitute Cedric Bakambu with eight minutes left.

Villarreal, in fifth place, close up to five points behind Sevilla, who can go level with Atletico should they beat Celta Vigo at home on Thursday.

Visiting goalkeeper Andres Fernandez saved from France forward Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Saul Niguez before also thwarting Nicolas Gaitan in a one-on-one during the second half.

Atletico's frustrating evening was compounded by the loss of Belgium playmaker Yannick Carrasco with what appeared to be a shoulder injury not long after he was sent on as a second-half substitute - leaving Simeone with plenty to ponder as the Champions League semi-final against city rivals Real Madrid looms.

Earlier, relegation battlers Sporting Gijon had to make do with a point after Espanyol came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at El Molinon.

Victor Rodriguez had fired Sporting ahead six minutes before the break when he whipped a 25-yard free-kick out on the left over the wall and into the bottom corner past Espanyol keeper Diego Lopez.

However, the visitors, aiming to cement their place in the top half of the table, were level after 55 minutes.

Leo Baptistao picked up possession on the right flank before driving into the Sporting half and playing a pass inside the centre-backs for Gerard Moreno to round goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar and score.

The draw edges Sporting closer to within three points of 17th-placed Leganes, who play Las Palmas on Wednesday with the chance to all but condemn Granada to relegation.