Deportivo La Coruña 1 - Málaga 0

Deportivo: Juanmi; Scaloni, César, Donato, Romero; Sergio, Duscher; Makaay (Capdevila 87'), Valerón, Amavisca (Víctor 62'); Diego Tristán (Luque 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce; Gerardo (Manu 20'), Romero, Miguel Angel (Sandro 65'), Musampa; Darío Silva, Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Deportivo: Romero, Duscher, Valerón, Amavisca for Héctor, Capdevila, Mauro Silva, Fran / Málaga: Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Miguel Angel for Rojas, Litos, Sandro.

Goals:
1-0. 86. Luque. Spectacular overhead kick in off post from edge of area.

A spectacular overhead kick from Luque four minutes from the end gave Deportivo a 1-0 win over Málaga. The young striker came on for a disappointing Diego Tristán in the second half, and after having two penalty appeals turned down, produced a moment of magic, taking a pass from Víctor and firing a shot over his shoulder in off the post.

The match got off to a physical start, with Romero, still playing with his head protection after having twelve stitches put in a head wound the week before, going in hard on Valerón more than once. Donato replied with a two footed tackle on Darío Silva, and Gerardo had to limp off the field after a clash with Amavisca, who was deputising for the indisposed Fran. Valerón shook off his marker though and set up Scaloni for a shot which hit the foot of the post, Tristán failed to connect cleanly with Amavisca's cross when alone in front of goal and Contreras came out decisively to clear with Makaay charging in on a long pass from Sergio.

Just before the break Málaga's Darío Silva broke free on the left of the area, but shot disappointingly wide. Otherwise though Depor were in control, and after the break César headed a corner just wide of the post. Tristán once again failed to hit the target from another Amavisca cross, and Irureta turned to Luque. The young striker was felled twice in the area, once by Josemi and then by Romero (who was finally booked later on for a rugby tackle on Valerón), but Téllez Sánchez waved away the appeals.

Depor were starting to get desperate, and when Víctor shot just over the bar and Contreras saved from Luque it appeared a draw was on the cards. But then came Luque's crowning moment, giving his side a win to take them back up to fifth in the table. Málaga stay in ninth place, but lose ground on their nearest rivals in their fight for a return to the Europe spots.