BARCELONA — Morocco striker Mounir El Hamdaoui scored a hat trick and set up another goal in his first start for Malaga Sunday in a 5-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. El Hamdaoui joined Malaga at the close of the summer transfer window, and with one start he has already equaled his goal scoring tally from last season with Italian club Fiorentina. “(El Hamdaoui) had a perfect start,” coach Bernd Schuster said after getting his first win with Malaga. “You can't ask for anything more. He scored, gave assists. He's a player that is going to help us a lot with his talent and effort. He's always moving and always wants to receive the ball in a good position. I'm happy for him, because it wasn't easy.” Elsewhere, Real Betis led by midfielder Salva Sevilla's brace dealt Valencia its third straight loss, a 3-1 defeat in Seville, before both teams turn to the Europa League. Espanyol won 1-0 at 10-man Granada thanks to Manuel Lanzarote's 76th-minute free kick, while Getafe striker Nicolas “Miku” Ladislao netted a double in a 2-1 win over last-place Osasuna. — Agencies
