Málaga 1 - Real Sociedad 5

Málaga: Calatayud; Gerardo, Fernando Sanz, Juanito, Valcarce; Alexis, Miguel Angel, Romero (Leko 71'), Edgar (Juan Rodríguez 80'); Amoroso (Paco Esteban 59'), Wanchope. 4-4-2.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; Zubiaurre, Luiz Alberto, Labaka, Rossato (Garrido 77'); Aranburu, Mikel Alonso; Karpin, Nihat, Gabilondo; Kovacevic (Uranga 87'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Valcarce, Alexis, Romero for Iznata, Leko, Duda / Real Sociedad: Alberto, Rossato, Mikel Alonso, Karpin for Riesgo, Garrido, Alkiza, Xabi Prieto.

Goals:
0-1. 11. Kovacevic. Header inside near post from Rossato's cross.
1-1. 41. Valcarce. Cross from right which dipped over keeper in off far post
1-2. 51. Kovacevic. Glancing header down past Calatayud from Nihat's cross.
1-3. 60. Labaka. Got ahead of defence to head corner into net on near post.
1-4. 70. Nihat. Ran on to Kovacevic headed pass to lob ball past Calatayud.
1-5. 82. Nihat. Connected with Karpin cross to fire shot wide of keeper.

Real Sociedad beat a poor Málaga side 1-5 to move comfortably up to mid-table and leave local manager Gregorio Manzano on the verge of losing his job. The South coast side came into the match having lost six of their last seven league games, and they found themselves behind early on when Kovacevic got on the end of Rossato's cross to beat Calatayud. And it could have been worse had the keeper not saved efforts from Kovacevic and Mikel Alonso a few minutes later.

Alberto was making his first start of the season in the Real goal thanks to the suspension of Riesgo, and he was hardly troubled throughout most of the first half. However he was caught out just before half time when Valcarce's long cross span over his head and into the net off the far post, only Málaga's second goal in eight games.

It didn't take the Basque side long to restore the lead though, Kovacevic heading a second goal just six minutes after the restart. And after that the floodgates opened, Labaka getting ahead of a static defence to head the third goal from a corner, and Nihat added two more later on for the final rout. Police had to protect club president Serafín Roldán from angry fans after the match, although he stood his ground and confirmed after the match that Manzano would be staying on, at least until after the Christmas holidays.