Malaga have survived a late scare from Levante to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 4-3 aggregate win following a 3-2 defeat this evening.
They had claimed a 2-0 victory in last week's first leg and although they were beaten by their opponents tonight, they will now go on to face the winners of Celta Vigo and Athletic Bilbao's last-16 tie.
Ricardo Horta gave the visitors the lead in the 22nd minute when he was played through on goal by Samu before placing a low strike past Jesus Fernandez.
Horta was almost in again just moments later, but Fernandez rushed off his line to block at the feet of the winger.
Malaga doubled their advantage seven minutes before the break, as Recio latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and curled a strike into the top corner.
The hosts almost managed to pull a goal back right at the end of the first half, but Pedro Lopez fired a shot just past the top corner.
After the break Juanmi threatened to add a third goal for the visitors, but his header was palmed away by Fernandez.
In the 70th minute David Barral pulled a goal back for the hosts when he touched in Issam El Adoua's header back across the box.
Barral equalised for Levante just minutes later when he controlled Ruben Garcia's cross, before turning past his marker and firing a low strike across goal and into the far corner.
Barral almost completed his hat trick soon after, but he saw his header beaten out by Guillermo Ochoa.
With five minutes of the game left the hosts completed their comeback as Barral flicked on a corner to the back post, where Juanfran was on hand fire in a volley.
In the final minute it seemed as if Levante had scored their fourth of the evening, but Barral had touched the ball into the net with his hand and ended up receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Barral's dismissal ended any lingering hopes that his side had of winning the tie as Malaga held on to go through to the last eight.
Alex Meyers
