Unal scores brace to lead Getafe's 3-0 win over Levante

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Getafe striker Enes Unal scored a first-half brace to lead a 3-0 victory over Levante in the Spanish league on Friday.

Unal took Getafe's opener just two minutes after kickoff when he headed in a corner kick. He added a second goal on the half-hour mark after making a skillful control of a pass while spinning free of his marker before firing into the corner.

Unal had not scored this season before Quique Sánchez Flores returned to the club in mid-October for his third stint as Getafe's coach. Since then, the Turkish player has scored nine times in 12 appearances.

'œI was needing this spark since I have been in Spain, and finally I have found it. Now I just have to keep it up,'ť said Unal, whose previous season high in Spain had been six goals while playing for Valladolid both in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Carles Aleñá added a third goal in injury time.

Before Sánchez Flores took over, Getafe lost seven times and managed only a single draw to start the term. Since then, the experienced coach has put the modest Madrid-based club on a run of only three losses in 15 league matches. The win over the hapless Levante moved it seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Winger Jorge de Frutos hit the post for Levante in the 40th in the visitors' best chance to get back in the game.

Levante, which has won only once this season, remained in last place at nine points from safety.

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