Mallorca 2 - Málaga 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; David Cortés, Lussenhoff, Fernando Niño, Edu Moya; Campano, Pereyra (Nadal 35'), Marcos, Finidi (Nené 62'); Eto'o, Delibasic (Jesús Perera 57'). 4-4-2.
Málaga: Arnau; Gerardo, Josemi, Litos (Manu 52'), Valcarce; Miguel Angel, Leko; Edgar (Diego Alonso 77'), Insúa (Canabal 63'), Duda; Salva. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Edu Moya, Campano for Poli, Correa / Málaga: Arnau for Calatayud.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Eto'o. Ran on to long pass to shoot low past Arnau from left of area.
1-1. 59. Salva. Touched long, bouncing cross from Duda past Leo Franco.
2-1. 66. Eto'o. Picked up loose ball close to goal and forced shot past keeper.

Mallorca moved five points clear of the relegation spots after a 2-1 victory over Málaga, thanks largely to two goals from Samuel Eto'o. The Camerooni forward couldn't resist a tear or two when he was presented with the trophy of Best African Player of the Year before the kick off, especially when the crowd rose to their feet to applaud him. And he paid them back in full with a great performance which virtually ensured first division football at the San Moix stadium next season.

Eto'o's first goal came midway through the first half when he ran on to Pereyra's pass to shoot past Arnau, referee Pino Zamorano waving away (correctly as it turned out) the visitors' appeals for offside. Campano had already worried the returning keeper with one effort from inside his own half which went just wide, and a couple of minutes after the restart he crashed another shot against the crossbar. Edgar could have equalised though soon afterwards, but Fernando Niño was there to clear off the line with the keeper beaten.

Salva had been Málaga's most dangerous player and he levelled the scores with the faintest of touches from Duda's cross on the hour mark, but Eto'o popped up again a few minutes later to restore the lead and round off a great evening. Juande Ramos did throw on all his strike force for the last quarter of an hour or so, but they were unable to make any inroads and the South coast side ended the weekend down in tenth position, four points now off the UEFA cup spots.