Sevilla thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-2 to increase their visitor's relegation worries.

Knowing a win could all but end their fears of dropping out of the Primera Division, Rayo were always chasing the game despite Diego Costa's brace.

Baba Diawara opened the scoring for Sevilla and, although Costa levelled from the spot, Juan Cala, Diawara again and Jose Antonio Reyes took the home side clear.

Costa scored his second but Freddie Kanoute sealed things late on to send Rayo into a do-or-die clash with Granada next weekend.

They remain out of the drop zone thanks to a better head-to-head record against Real Zaragoza, and will need to equal their result if they are to survive.

This drubbing has not helped their cause, though, and the tone was set when Diawara went close early on.

The pressure continued, albeit not through chances, but when Diawara got another opportunity in the 30th minute, he swept in Jesus Navas' pass.

The same man then whipped a drive wide, before Costa netted from the spot after Federico Fazio had been chopped down by Miguel Michu.

But parity would not last until half-time, with Cala rising the highest to nod in Ivan Rakitic's cross (42).

Two became three immediately after the break when Diawara scored a replica of his opener, Navas again the provider, although Costa nearly pulled one back immediately when his effort was saved by Andres Palop.

Diawara was on fire and powered an effort at goal that David Cobena did well to deal with, but that mattered little when Reyes tucked home after another cross from the outstanding Navas.

Costa was not giving up the fight, and he twice tried his luck from the edge of the box, before finally getting the second goal his play deserved when he converted Michel's 77th-minute corner.

But rather than start a fightback, it proved to be nothing more than a consolation, with Kanoute making it five when he slotted in (81), with Navas again the provider.M