Málaga 2 - Zaragoza 0

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Bravo, Larrainzar, Roteta; Rufete, Movilla, Sandro (Musampa 80'), Agostinho (Fernando Sanz 61'); Darío Silva (Zárate 75'), Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Gurenko (Yordi 62'), Aguado, Paco, Pablo; José Ignacio, Toro Acuña; Marcos Vales (Juanele 55'), Montenegro, Vellisca (Garitano 78'); Esnaider. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Agostinho for De los Santos / Zaragoza: Marcos Vales, Montenegro for Juanele, Jamelli.

Goals:
1-0. 22. Dely Valdés. Headed home free kick from Agostinho.
2-0. 47. Sandro. Following up after Agostinho shot hit bar.

Málaga recorded their third win in a row to move up to eighth position in the league, within two points of the European spots. With De los Santos suspended, Joaquín Peiró was forced to change the side that beat Villarreal last week, and Agostinho came in on the left of midfield rather than the other option Zárate. Zaragoza's manager Luis Costa didn't have to make any changes, but with his side having gone eleven games without a win away from home he decided to do so anyway, leaving out Juanele and Jamelli and bringing in Marcos Vales and Montenegro in the line of three behind Esnaider. The inclusion of Marcos Vales in particular was a surprise, the midfielder not expected to play for Zaragoza again after falling out with his manager earlier in the season.

The changes though made little difference as Zaragoza once again disappointed, with Málaga on top right from the start. Dely Valdés was celebrating his 34th birthday, and after Juanmi somehow kept out a point blank shot from the Panamanian striker, he made no mistake with a second chance halfway through the first half. Only Juanmi stood in the way of a bigger scoreline, and he made a fantastic save later in the half to deny Darío Silva. It was only a matter of time though, and the on form Sandro made it two just after the interval, following up after a series of attacks which culminated with Agostinho hitting the post.

Referee Puentes Leira tried to even things up sending off Bravo for a second bookable offence before the hour mark, but substitute Juanele lost his head only two minutes later, grabbing Sandro by the throat right in front of the referee to earn himself a direct red card. After that Málaga sat back on their lead, with Fernando Sanz coming on to take Bravo's place and steady up the defence to play out the remaining minutes. Zaragoza had been beaten again, and with the UEFA spots too far away can only look to save their position in the top flight, with a hope of a cup final appearance at the end of the season their only realistic route to Europe. Málaga can still dream of playing on other shores next season. Strange, most people in Europe dream of coming to Málaga's shores and not the other way round. As they say, the grass is always greener on the other guy's pitch.....