Málaga 2 - Zaragoza 1

Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Litos, Roteta; Gerardo (Edgar 80'), Romero, Miguel Angel (Ivan Leko 60'), Musampa; Canabal, Dely Valdés (Zárate 60'). 4-4-2.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Komljenovic, César (Cuartero 24'), Paco, Pablo; Aragón, Chainho; Juanele, Jamelli (Drulic 70'), Vellisca (Garitano 46'); Milosevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Roteta, Gerardo, Dely Valdés for Valcarce, Edgar, Sandro / Zaragoza: Juanmi, Chainho, Juanele, Jamelli for Láinez, José Ignacio, Galletti, Drulic.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Gerardo. Volleyed into back of net from Musampa's cross.
2-0. 09. Musampa. Rounded defender and beat Juanmi after pass in from Dely.
2-1. 63. Toro Acuña. Beat keeper with strong shot after Juanele pass.

Málaga moved safely into mid-table after beating struggling Zaragoza 2-1. Dely Valdés returned to the Andalucian side, but it was another player returning from injury, Gerardo, who gave them the lead in the first minute when he volleyed home Musampa's cross. Eight minutes later they were two up when Musampa scored himself following a good run, finishing off with a shot into the top corner of Juanmi's net. The Zaragoza keeper must have wondered what hit him, having only come in to the side at the last minute after Láinez hurt himself in the pre-match warm up. Other than Láinez, Luis Costa had made three changes, with Chainho replacing the suspended José Ignacio and the two J's, Juanele and Jamelli, coming in for Galletti and for Drulic, who has yet to score a goal since rejoining the squad at the start of the year after a long injury.

The changes made little difference though to a side who had lost three out of their last four games before this one, and with the notable exception of Toro Acuña they did not trouble Contreras or his defence. The Paraguayan midfielder did however bring one good save out of the keeper in the first half, and he left Contreras with no chance midway through the second with another shot from way outside of the area. Málaga by this time were also in sleep mode, and little else was expected to happen as the game went in to injury time. However Zaragoza's Paco got his marching orders for a second caution, and then the ten men rallied right at the end, Juanele almost spoiling the fans' day with a shot which hit the foot of the post. It was not to be though, and the visitors drop further down the table to seventeenth, only a point now above the bottom three and seemingly on their way to relegation. Málaga are in line to stay in the top flight for another season, and with a bit of luck they could also qualify for the Intertoto cup and a first ever excursion into Europe.