Málaga 1 - Racing Santander 0

Málaga: Arnau; Josemi, Juanito, Litos, Valcarce; Leko, Miguel Angel; Gerardo, Edgar (Canabal 92'), Duda (Luque 69'); Salva (Diego Alonso 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Ricardo; Cristian Alvarez, Pablo Casar, Juanma, Neru; Matabuena, Nafti (Regueiro 60'); Morán (Afek 72'), Javi Guerrero (Jonathan 69'), Benayoun; Bodipo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: No change / Racing: Matabuena, Bodipo for Anderson Silva, Regueiro.

Goals:
1-0. 38. Salva. Picked up Gerardo cross and turned Juanma before scoring.

Málaga moved safely up to midtable after a 1-0 win over Racing Santander, their third victory in a row. Juande Ramos put out the same side which beat Celta the week before, which meant that there was no place for Fernando Sanz after returning from a one match ban, the first time he has had to start on the bench in three years.

The Cantabrians had the better of the opening minutes though, but they only managed one real shot from Morán in all the first half, Arnau saving without too much trouble. And a few minutes before the break the home side locals scored what was to be the only goal of the game, Salva picking a pass in from Gerardo and turning quickly to leave Juanma stranded and poke the ball past Ricardo. It was the striker's fifteenth of the season in the league, and another message to Iñaki Sáez that he was back to his old form and ready for a recall to the national side.

Visiting manager Lucas Alcaraz made three attacking changes early in the second half, but his side were still unable to make any headway. And Málaga could have increased their lead had Ricardo not made excellent saves from Leko and Luque, and had Gerardo's chipped shot not bounced back off the crossbar later on.