First Division - Day 27

Osasuna 3 - Málaga 3

Osasuna: Nuno; Alfonso, Cruchaga, Aitor Ocio (Jusué 70'), Iban Pérez, Llorens (Trzeciak 52'); Alex Fernández, Alfredo, Gancedo; Iván Rosado, Armentano (Lekumberri 78'). 5-3-2.
Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Fernando Sanz, Larrainzar (Rivas 57'), Roteta; Rufete, Movilla (Zárate 78'), De los Santos, Sandro (Iznata 78'); Darío Silva, Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Osasuna: Armentano for Sabino / Málaga: Fernando Sanz, De los Santos for Bravo, Agostinho.

Goals:
0-1. 22. Rufete. First time shot after cross from Darío Silva on right.
0-2. 32. Dely Valdés. Header over Nuno after deep pass by Rojas.
1-2. 35. Alex. Free kick from outside of area which bounced past keeper.
2-2. 70. Gancedo. Strong shot from edge of area which went in off near post.
3-2. 75. Iván Rosado. Headed wide of keeper after cross from Trzeciak.
3-3. 93. Zárate. Shot through crowd of players into bottom corner of net.

Osasuna came back from two goals down and in the end were lucky not to take the three points against Málaga when the Andalucian side equalised with almost the last kick of the match. Málaga's recent good form had taken them near to the gates of European football, and they cruised into what looked like a comfortable lead with just over half an hour gone with Rufete's first league goal of the season and Dely's thirteenth. But a mistake by their keeper Contreras let the home side back in the game, and with Gancedo getting better each match it seemed to be only a matter of time before Osasuna would draw level.

Málaga's defence held steady though, with Fernando Sanz making his first start of the season in place of the suspended Bravo, until Gancedo finally found the gap twenty minutes from the end to make it all square. Darío Silva was lucky not to get himself sent off after breaking two of Aitor Ocio's ribs with his knee, although he did pick up a fifth yellow card which means he misses the next game. A few minutes later Osasuna took the lead with Iván Rosado's fourth goal in as many games, and Joaquín Peiró made a double substitution, bringing on Iznata and Zárate.

Osasuna back-pedalled, with Lotina taking off a forward to defend the lead, but the two substitutes combined for Zárate to disappoint the home fans with a last minute goal. Osasuna's point means they still rise off the bottom above Racing, although they would have liked a couple more to take them closer to salvation. Málaga extend their unbeaten run to four games, during which time they have taken ten points to move them within two places of sixth placed Villarreal. Europe beckons.

Results