Primera Division: Sevilla brought their season to a thrilling climax with a 3-2 win at Malaga, but missed out on fourth spot

Sevilla brought their superb season to a thrilling climax with a 3-2 win at Andalusian rivals Malaga, although there was a bittersweet end to the evening for Unai Emery's side, who narrowly missed out on fourth place and a Champions League birth due to Valencia's late win at Almeria.

Jose Antonio Reyes, Ever Banega and Aleix Vidal gave the visitors a three-goal lead in 10 rampant minutes in the second half, while Javi Guerra scored twice for the hosts, who finish the season in ninth and miss out on a Europa League place.

For a moment it looked as if Sevilla would pip Valencia to fourth, as Nuno Espirito Santo's side were being held to a draw at Almeria, but Paco Alcacer's late winning goal means Sevilla's last chance to qualify for the Champions League rests on beating Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Wednesday's Europa League final.

With no European finals of their own to worry about, Malaga focused all their efforts on this game and took the initiative in the first half, with Guerra and Juanmi both missing good chances to break the deadlock.

Sevilla relinquished their role as spectators after the break and took the lead eight minutes into the second half, with Reyes putting the finishing touch to a sweeping counter-attack move after exchanging passes with Coke, rounding Carlos Kameni to pass into an empty net.

Banega scored the second barely three minutes later, finishing off a long spell of short Sevilla passes by curling the ball into the far corner.

Vidal then scored a third after a splendid run by Benoit Tremoulinas, seemingly killing off the match.

However, Guerra showed further signs he is still the same player who scored 15 goals for Real Valladolid last season by firing the ball past Sergio Rico from the edge of the area.

And in injury time the former Cardiff striker scored again, arriving at the far post to hook Roberto Rosales' cross into the net.

There was no time for Malaga to try to find an equaliser, but Sevilla were already condemned to fifth place by Valencia's victory.