MADRID, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Girona all-but guaranteed a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, while piling the pressure on Cadiz thanks to a 4-1 win in La Liga on Saturday night.

The win leaves Girona 10 points clear of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao with just six games to play, while it leaves Cadiz six points adrift of safety in the bottom three.

Eric Garcia and Ivan Martin gave Girona a perfect start with goals after nine and 22 minutes, and its superiority over a rival that looks set for the drop was confirmed by second-half efforts from Artem Dovbyk and Portu.

Real Betis striker Ayoze Perez netted twice as his side won 2-1 away to Valencia and climbed above it into the seventh place in La Liga.

Perez opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a brilliant pass from Isco and although Pepelu equalized for Valencia from the penalty spot after 66 minutes, Perez's deflected shot in the 77th minute decided the match and put his side in a spot for next season's UEFA Europa Conference League.

Celta Vigo took a huge stride towards assuring its salvation after coming back from a goal down to win 4-1 at home over Las Palmas, which lifts it six points above Cadiz.

Juan Herzog put the visitor ahead in the 11th minute, but Celta coach Claudio Giraldez was able to celebrate the contract extension he signed this week when Iago Aspas scored from a Carles Perez pass in the 37th minute and Williot Swedberg put Celta ahead two minutes later.

Aspas turned provider 20 minutes from time, when he broke through and left Tasos Douvikas with a tap-in, and he then netted his second of the game with a left-foot finish.

Rayo Vallecano also fought back after falling behind to win 2-1 at home to Osasuna, with two goals in the last 10 minutes from Pep Chavarria and Isi Palazon after Moi Gomez scored a first-half goal for the visitor.

Athletic Bilbao's hopes of a top-four finish suffered a setback on Friday night as it was held 1-1 at home to second from bottom Granada.

The visitor took a surprise early lead when Inaki Williams flicked a corner into his own net, but Athletic leveled before halftime when Gorka Guruzeta scored his 14th league goal of the season.

Athletic pressed hard in the second half, but couldn't find a winner, with Inaki William's late volley going just the wrong side of the post. Enditem

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