Rayo Vallecano 2 - Málaga 1

Rayo: Etxeberría; Mario, De Quintana, Onopko, Graff; Quevedo, Mora; Julio Alvarez (Luis Cembranos 75'), Peragón (Marqués 88'), Michel; Bolic (Bolo 62'). 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce; Gerardo, Manu (Iznata 74'), Romero (Sandro 73'), Musampa; Darío Silva, Canabal (Leko 60'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Rayo: Mora for Azkoitia / Málaga: Darío Silva, Canabal for Leko, Dely Valdés.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Michel. Long free kick from right which bounced past everyone.
2-0. 80. Peragón. Collected ball on right of area and fired shot into roof of net.
2-1. 85. Darío Silva. Curled free kick over defensive wall into top of net.

Rayo Vallecano beat Málaga 2-1 to record their first home win since early December and give new manager Gustavo Benítez a good start. Joaquín Peiró's side have never won in Vallecas in the first division, and they found themselves behind again when Michel's long free kick bounced past everyone and in to the net. The goal ended the hopes of Contreras, who only needed to keep out the Rayo attack for another half an hour to break his own club record of 460 minutes without letting in a goal. After that Rayo kept control, with Contreras having to make several saves, the best of which was from a Julio Alvarez free kick.

Gerardo tested Etxeberría after the break with a couple of free kicks, but with ten minutes to go Peragón scored a spectacular second goal to put his side further ahead. Darío Silva pulled one back though five minutes later from a curling free kick to keep the fans on their toes, but Luis Cembranos, returning after a fifteen months absence due to a serious knee injury, could have wrapped things up when he just failed to steer a header on goal. Rayo's run of three home defeats in a row had come to an end, and although they are still next to bottom, they move to within a point of salvation.