An own goal from Cesar Navas and a first-half strike from Mustapha Riga was enough to move Levante up to 16th and three points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Nastic's stay in La Liga looks set to last only one year as they are nine points adrift of safety with only five games left - three of which are against high-flying Atletico Madrid, Getafe and Barcelona.

Levante went into the game, having taken only five points from their last 10 games and knowing a win would be vital in their quest for survival.

They duly flew out the traps and could have been in front after only two minutes.

Riga's free-kick from the right found Frenchman Olivier Kapo unmarked, but his header from six yards went narrowly wide.

Eight minutes later Kapo struck straight at Chueca Reuben Perez with a free-kick from 25 yards.

In the 17th minute, Felix Ettien's teasing free-kick was met by Salva who headed straight at Perez when he should have done better.

Levante continued to press in search of the opening goal and in the 27th minute that goal came when Navas headed into his own net from close range.

Gimnastic were reeling after the goal and it looked only a matter of time before the home side doubled their lead.

That proved to be the case as Riga made it 2-0 six minutes before half-time.

Salva found space down the right and he laid the ball into Riga, who produced a fine left-footed finish from 12 yards.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first as Levante looked to put the game out of reach.

In the 52nd minute, Kapo got on the end of Riga's free-kick, but once again he could not beat Perez from close range and headed straight at the grateful Gimnastic goalkeeper.

Five minutes later Salva wasted another chance to kill the game off, also heading straight at Perez after being found by Laurent Courtois' superb cross.

Gimnastic were unable to get any sort of foothold in the game and Salva failed to score with another header in the 71st minute.

The home side continued to turn the screw and only the woodwork stopped them making it 3-0 twice late on.

With 81 minutes gone, Kapo's powerful left-footed effort from 20 yards hit the post and two minutes later, Inaki Descarga's header smacked against the bar.

The visitors looked like a side already consigned to relegation and the closest they came to scoring was a shot from Martin Ruben Castro inside the box that was blocked his own team-mate Javier Portillo.

However, Levante comfortably held on for a vital three points, while Gimnastic remain rooted to the foot of the table with their survival hopes fading dramatically.