Málaga 0 - Rayo Vallecano 0

Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Litos, Roteta; Gerardo (Zárate 70'), Romero, Miguel Angel (Sandro 46'), Musampa; Darío Silva, Dely Valdés (Canabal 70'). 4-4-2.
Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Corino, Hernández, De Quintana, Graff; Azkoitia (Vivar Dorado 65'), Quevedo; Ferrón (Glaucio 72'), Peragón, Michel; Bolic (Helder 89'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: No change / Rayo: Azkoitia for Pablo Sanz.

Goals: None.

Málaga and Rayo Vallecano shared the points in a 0-0 draw, a result which did neither side much good in achieving their respective objectives. Rayo were looking for their first away win of the season to take them out of the relegation zone, and the home side needed the points to keep up their outside hopes of a place in Europe next season. Grergorio Manzano's side defended well, and Málaga didn't get a real chance at goal until Corino cleared a shot from Darío Silva with Etxeberria beaten late in the first half. Darío was playing his first game as an EU player having been given his Spanish passport earlier in the week. Rayo replied with an effort from Peragón on the stroke of half time which Contreras saved at point blank range after Bolic had set him up, and they were unlucky not to get a penalty earlier on when Fernando Sanz brought down Peragón in the area.

Darío Silva and Dely Valdés combined in the second half for the Panamanian striker to beat the keeper only to see his goal controversially ruled out by referee Pérez Burrull for a very dubious offside. Both managers made their three changes in an effort to break the equilibrium, and the visitors came closest to doing so through substitute Vivar Dorado and then twice from Michel. However the on-form Contreras was there each time to keep them out and put in another reminder to Camacho that he is available if he needs another good keeper for the World Cup. With three minutes to go Rayo's French defender Hernández got himself sent off for a second bookable offence, but by then there was little chance of anyone scoring. Rayo ended the weekend in eighteenth place, climbing above Zaragoza on goal average, and with three teams only a point above them they are not far from salvation. Málaga stay ninth, but now six points away from the UEFA cup spots.