Málaga 5 - Betis 0

Málaga: Arnau; Alexis, César Navas, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce; Edgar, Gerardo (Anderson Silva 77'), Juan Rodríguez, Nacho (Paco Esteban 81'); Pablo Couñago (Hidalgo 83'), Salva. 4-4-2.
Betis: Doblas; Melli, Juanito, Nano, Castellini; Marcos Assunçao (Rivera 46'), Arzu (Juanlu 46'); Joaquín (Israel 78'), Capi, Edu; Oliveira. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Pablo Couñago for Chengue Morales / Betis: Melli, Arzu, Joaquín, Capi for Oscar López, Rivera, Varela, Xisco.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Salva. Latched on to loose ball to score from close up.
2-0. 29. Salva. Header wide of keeper on far post from Gerardo's long cross.
3-0. 51. Fernando Sanz. Got above defence to head Gerardo corner into net.
4-0. 63. Couñago. Ran past defenders to touch long ball past Doblas.
5-0. 74. Couñago. Low diving header close to goal from Nacho's cross.

Málaga bounced back after three defeats in a row to thrash an unrecognisable Betis 5-0. Antonio Tapia decided to draft in ex Ipswich striker Pablo Couñago alongside Salva, and the new pairing got off to the best possible start, scoring two goals each and proving to be a nightmare for the visiting defence. Salva gave his side the lead in the eighth minute, finding the net from close up after the defence failed to clear a corner, and headed a second over Doblas on the half hour mark from Gerardo's cross. Earlier on Edgar had missed an easy chance, and the only reply from Serra Ferrer's side had been an effort from Oliveira which Arnau dealt with competently.

Six minutes in to the second half Fernando Sanz made it three when he headed Gerardo's corner past the keeper, and Edgar and Salva should have put the locals further ahead before Couñago got his first goal for his new side, running on to a long clearance to beat Doblas after Juanito and Nano had let the ball through. Ten minutes later Couñago headed the fifth after Nacho set him up, and it could have even been more had Juan Rodríguez not wasted a late chance. The win takes the locals up into the top half of the table, a point above Betis who have now let in nine goals in four days following their Champions League defeat at Chelsea.