Numancia 0 - Málaga 1

Numancia: Juanma; Pignol, Jaime Molina, Tarantino, Graff; Velasco (Carlos Merino 40'), Pablo Sanz (Palacios 55'), Tevenet, Juanlu; Pineda (Rafa Jordá 55'),Miguel. 4-4-2.
Málaga: Arnau; Romero, Fernando Sanz, César Navas, Valcarce; Juanito, Miguel Angel; Gerardo, Juan Rodríguez, Duda (Iznata 90'); Fernando Baiano (Tote 64'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Numancia: Graff, Tevenet, Juanlu, Pineda for Otxoa, Palacios, Carlos Merino, Rafa Jordá / Málaga: Duda for Michel.

Goals:
0-1. 44. Juan Rodríguez. Turned ball into net after keeper pushed out Baiano shot.

Struggling Málaga recorded a much needed win, beating bottom club Numancia by a single goal to move four points clear of the drop zone. The locals started well, with Miguel having a shot blocked and Juanlu shooting just wide. But they were left with ten men with only a half hour on the clock when Tevenet was shown a red card for elbowing Juan Rodríguez, and on the stroke of half time Rodríguez got what was to be the only goal of the game after keeper Juanma could only turn a shot from Baiano into his path.

Local manager Maximo Hernández made his third change early in the second half, but his side didn't react, and Málaga could have added to their score when Baiano, Rodríguez, Tote and Iznata all went close. But they had done enough for the three points, leaving their opponents well adrift at the bottom without a win in ten games. Before the match festivities had been arranged between the two sets of supporters, who had made friends the last time that Numancia were in the top flight. They said goodbye at the end with long faces, knowing that it may be some time before they see each other again.