Málaga 1 - Espanyol 2

Málaga: Arnau; Alexis (Anderson Silva 65'), César Navas, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce (Pablo Couñago 78'); Gerardo, Juan Rodríguez, Nacho, Duda; Chengue Morales, Salva (Edgar 65'). 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Kameni; Zabaleta, Jarque, Lopo, David García; Juanfran (Corominas 68'), Fredson (Riera 89'), Costa, Domi; Luis García (Moisés 85'), Tamudo. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Málaga: Duda, Chengue Morales for Romero, Edgar / Espanyol: Jarque, Fredson, Domi, Luis García for Armando Sá, Pochettino, Ito, De la Peña.

Goals:
0-1. 42. Zabaleta. Picked up pass from García and fired shot over head of Arnau.
0-2. 62. Luis García. Controlled pass from Tamudo and shot low past keeper.
1-2. 88. Gerardo (penalty). After Jarque hauled down Chengue Morales in area.

After defeats in their opening matches, Málaga and Espanyol started the last game of the weekend knowing that the loser would end the day in the relegation spots. And in the end that dubious honour fell to the locals after the Catalan side ran out 1-2 winners.

Zabaleta opened the scoring after picking up a pass from new signing Luis García before the interval, his shot curling over the head of Arnau into the far top corner. Gerardo came close to levelling the scores when he crashed a shot against the bar after the restart, but play went up the other end and Tamudo set up Luis García for him to make it two.

Gerardo pulled one back from the penalty spot two minutes from the end after Chengue Morales was held back by Jarque, but Tamudo should have increased the lead with a second penalty a minute later after Corominas was brought down by Nacho, Arnau standing his ground to save from the Spanish international striker.