Villarreal 0 - Málaga 0

Villarreal: Reina; Javi Venta, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Galván (Quique Medina 77'); Josico (Calleja 77'), Farinós; Guayre, Víctor, Jorge López (Palermo 70'); De Nigris. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce; Manu (Sandro 71'), Gerardo, Romero, Musampa (Miguel Angel 71'); Darío Silva, Dely Valdés (Canabal 81'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Javi Venta, Galván, De Nigris for Belletti, Arruabarrena, Quique Medina / Málaga: Gerardo for Sandro.

Goals: None.

Last week's sixth placed side Málaga dropped a position after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Villarreal. It was a game in which the few scoring chances fell to the home side, with Guayre, De Nigris and Víctor unable to beat an excellent Contreras in the first half. Reina in the local goal was hardly troubled, especially after Málaga were reduced to ten men midway through the second half, Darío Silva getting his marching orders for the second time this season after a high scissors-kick tackle on Ballesteros. Benito Floro brought on Palermo immediately afterwards to try and take advantage of the extra man, but he too was off target, heading his only chance over the bar. The result helps Villarreal edge four points away from the bottom three, although they stay in sixteenth spot with a lot still to do to remain in the top flight next season.