Rayo Vallecano 4 - Málaga 2

Rayo: Lopetegui; Alcázar, De Quintana, Ballesteros, Mingo; Iván Iglesias, Pablo Sanz (Mauro 72'), Quevedo (Bartelt 80'), Michel; Bolic (Helder 65'), Bolo. 4-4-2.
Málaga: Contreras; Rojas (Edgar 70'), Roteta (Sandro 60'), Larrainzar, Valcarce; Bravo; Rufete, Movilla, Iznata (Agostinho 70'); Zárate, Dely Valdés. 4-1-3-2.

Team changes: Rayo: Pablo Sanz, Bolo for Poschner, Mauro / Málaga: Rojas, Iznata for Ruano, De los Santos.

Goals:
1-0. 02. Bolo. Header after corner by Iván Iglesias.
1-1. 24. Zárate. Powerful shot from outside area after short free kick by Roteta.
2-1. 37. Bolic. Nipped in to head past keeper after long clearance by Lopetegui.
3-1. 77. Bravo (own goal). Turned Mauro's cross from right past his own keeper.
4-1. 91. Bartelt. From possible offside position after Michel touched on.
4-2. 93. Agostinho. Ran in from left and first time shot past keeper.

Rayo Vallecano moved back up to fourth in the league with another high scoring win. With Poschner suspended yet again Juande Ramos brought in Pablo Sanz for his first start of the season after his long injury, and he opted for a joint strike force of on-form forwards Bolo and Bolic. Joaquín Peiró was missing several of his first choice players, with De los Santos attending his father's funeral in Uruguay, and Ruano, Darío Silva, Canabal and Fernando Sanz all injured.

Rayo had scored 399 goals in the first division before this game, and it only took Bolo two minutes to get number 400, the Basque striker unveiling a River Plate shirt under his own, identical (except for the sponsor) to Rayo's own colours. Pablo Sanz hit the woodwork before Málaga equalised against the run of play, Zárate once again scoring a fine goal after a short free kick. Bolic restored the lead shortly after he too had hit rattled the bar, getting on the end of a long clearance with Contreras and Larrainzar hesitating.

Peiró made his three changes in the second half and their play improved, but Bravo put through his own goal shortly afterwards from Mauro's cross to increase Rayo's lead. In injury time each side scored through their substitutes, Bartelt getting his first goal for Rayo and Agostinho replying for the visitors before Muñiz Fernández called it a day. Málaga had at least gone one better than last season's 4-1 result here, but they are now struggling a point above the relegation zone having gone three games without a win.