Racing Santander 2 - Málaga 1

Racing: Dudu Aouate; Pedro López, Oriol, Juanma, Bertín; Anderson Silva (Nafti 77'), Torrado; Morán (Aganzo 81'), Benayoun, Regueiro; Javi Guerrero. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Calatayud; Alexis, Juanito, César Navas, Valcarce; Usero, Miguel Angel, Juan Rodríguez, Duda; Amoroso (Edgar 51'), Geijo (Paco Esteban 62'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Racing: Pedro López, Oriol, Torrado, Morán, Regueiro for Moratón, Pablo Casar, Nafti, Ayoze, Aganzo / Málaga: César Navas, Usero, Juan Rodríguez, Duda, Geijo for Gerardo, Fernando Sanz, Romero, Edgar, Wanchope.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Javi Guerrero. Got on end of Morán's floated cross to head wide of keeper.
2-0. 40. Regueiro. Shot following short free kick which Calatayud couldn't stop.
2-1. 85. César Navas. Got above defence to head Duda's long cross over keeper.

Racing Santander beat fellow strugglers Málaga 2-1 to open up a four point gap between them and their opponents, who stay in the relegation spots as a result. Both sides started the match desperate for a win, the Cantabrians having gone seven games without one and the Andalusians having only managed one victory in their last eleven outings. It was the home side who struck first though, Javi Guerrero heading Morán's weighted cross wide of Calatayud midway through the first half.

That gave the locals confidence, and Benayoun went close before Regueiro latched on to a short free kick to blast the ball past Calatayud from 25 yards out shortly before half time. The visitors thought they had got one back after the restart when Juan Rodríguez scored, but referee Pino Zamorano ruled it out for a dubious offside. Finally though they did close the gap when César Navas got above the defence to steer a header past Aouate from Duda's cross, setting up a nail-biting finish.

Nerves got the better of everybody though near the end, Alexis getting sent off for a second bookable offence and then a brawl breaking out between almost all of the players as a Racing man tried to waste time. Pino Zamorano finally picked out Nafti and Miguel Angel for red cards, but he could have shown several more. And things almost started again when Juanito was brought down in local area, the referee waving play on much to the disgust of the visiting side. In the end though another defeat for Málaga, which cost the job of manager Gregorio Manzano who was fired later in the week. B team coach Antonio Tapia takes over, and he has a lot of work to do if he is to turn things around.