Malaga have stormed back to beat last-place Zaragoza 5-1, boosting the Andalusian side to fourth place in the Spanish league.

After a 60-million-euro ($A75.24 million) squad overhaul this summer, Malaga set their sights on a top-of-the-table finish to earn a spot in European competition next season.

In their eighth win in 12 home games, the Qatari-owned club on Saturday moved one point ahead of Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol, who are all fighting for Spain’s last Champions League spot come next season.

Zaragoza struck first in the 23rd minute through Carlos Aranda’s volley of a cross by Angel Lafita for his first goal since joining the team from Levante in the winter transfer market.

Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez denied Joris Mathijsen with a diving save moments later but he could do nothing to keep out Seba Fernandez’s header off a pass from Francisco “Isco” Alarcon just before halftime to level the score.

Malaga pressed forward and went in front for good in the 67th when Isco’s cross took a deflection off Paulo Da Silva and caught Roberto out of position.

The strike of bad luck left Zaragoza reeling and Malaga soon took advantage.

Defender Martin Demichelis turned a header off the post and into the net in the 77th, and with Zaragoza’s defence in tatters Isco rifled in a deserved goal two minutes later before striker Jose Rondon sealed the demolition in the 88th.

Zaragoza appears destined to play next season in the second division as they sit 11 points from safety.

Elsewhere, Racing Santander rallied for a 1-1 home draw against Sporting Gijon in a relegation fight, while Getafe drew 1-1 at Real Betis as both teams stayed in the middle of the table.

Striker David Barral put Sporting ahead against the run of play when he blasted in a rising free kick for his eighth goal of the season in the 42nd minute.

But Racing continued to show more initiative and Christian Stuani pulled the host even in the 74th with his fourth goal from the penalty spot of the season after being fouled by substitute defender Alejandro Galvez.

Racing remain 18th in the 20-team division while Sporting, who have drawn two straight under former Spain coach Javier Clemente, are three points behind in 19th.

“For scoring chances and courage, we deserved to win,” said Juanjo Gonzalez. “We won’t know the worth of this point until the end of the season.”