Own goal by defender Ba gives Cordoba win

Leon Benko, right, challenges for a high ball against Abdoulaye Ba Paulo Duarte/AP

MADRID — An own goal by Rayo Vallecano defender Abdoulaye Ba gifted Cordoba a 1-0 win in the Spanish league on Monday.

Cordoba raced up the field on a counter-attack and Senegalese central defender Ba’s mis-hit his attempted clearance and the ball landed in the back of goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez’s net.

Cordoba rose above the relegation zone to 15th place on 17 points, while Rayo is 11th place on 20 after 18 rounds.

Real Madrid leads the standings on 42 points after 17 rounds, with a game in hand because of its December participation in the Club World Cup.

The postponed 16th-round fixture against Sevilla will take place Feb. 4 at the Santiago Bernabeu, the league announce Monday.

Barcelona is second on 41 points, three more than third-place Atletico Madrid.

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