Israel keeper Dudu Awat helped Real Mallorca climb to fourth in Spain’s La Liga after beating his former club Deportivo La Coruna.

The victory was especially sweet for Awat, 32, who joined Deportivo last January.

He greeted his former teammates but is reported to have avoided shaking hands with Deportivo’s manager Miguel Lotina.

Awat left Deportivo after being attacked by fellow goalkeeper Gustavo Munua. However, Lotina insisted that Awat was as much to blame as Munua over the argument and dropped him from the team.

Awat said: “I played 66 games for Deportivo but I’m happier where I am now. Fourth place leads to the Champions League so our aim is to stay where we are.”

As well as the clean sheet in a 2-0 win, Awat capped a fine display by setting up Mallorca’s second goal with a long clearance downfield.

“It’s the first time I’ve made a goal for Mallorca but I’ve done it before for Deportivo and Haifa,” he said.

Espanyol striker Ben Sahar found himself in the starting line-up for the first time in three months against Osasuna but it was to no avail as they lost 2-0 against Espanyol.

Avi Luzon has been elected Chairman of the Israel FA for a second term.