Two goals from Dutch striker Rahamat Mustapha Riga inspired the strugglers to a 3-2 victory which lifts them six points clear of the relegation zone with just two games left to play.

And their superior head-to-head record against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo means Levante can not now be dragged into the bottom three.

Felix Ettien gave the visitors an early lead and even though Nikola Zigic equalised just after the half-hour, Riga's brace put the away side in control before Felipe Melo scored to set up a grandstand finale.

Levante were relegated after just one season in the Primera Liga in 2005, but bounced straight back and have now prolonged their stay in the top division of Spanish football for at least another year.

The defeat means Racing remain in 10th place and extinguishes their very faint hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Ettien got Levante off to the perfect start with a goal on 12 minutes, controlling Salva Ballesta's pass inside from the right wing and finding the bottom corner with a well-struck shot from 12 yards.

Racing almost responded immediately, Christian Fernandez firing just over the bar with a 25-yard free-kick and Oscar Serrano Rodriguez also going close from long range.

But the home side's first real chance arrived in the 22nd minute when towering Serbian striker Zigic headed wide from the centre of the area.

Zigic was picked out in the area again on 32 minutes and the club's top marksman was not going to spurn a second opportunity to score, nodding Lionel Scaloni's left-wing cross past Levante goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero.

But Racing were level for barely five minutes as Riga fired the visitors back in front from 12 yards.

Levante almost went further ahead two minutes after the restart when Salva's shot from the left side of the area was saved by Juan Calatayud and the Racing stopper denied the same player from a similar position 10 minutes later.

Cavallero kept out Scaloni's effort from a tight angle on 57 minutes and at the other end Riga nearly provided his side with a two goal cushion, placing his shot from the right of the area wide of the far post.

But Riga did give Levante some breathing space with 18 minutes remaining when he brought down Jose Manuel Serrano's long ball before firing across Calatayud and into the far bottom corner from 18 yards.

The visitors though were forced to endure a nailbiting final 13 minutes after Melo pulled one back for Racing, meeting Cristian Alvarez's well-flighted cross at the near post and heading past Cavallero from 12 yards to give his side hope.

And that hope nearly turned into a point in stoppage time when Zigic was picked out just six yards from goal, but his header was kept out by Cavallero and Levante held on for a victory which guarantees survival.