First Division - Day 12

Málaga 3 - Real Sociedad 1

Málaga: Arnau; Alexis, César Navas, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce (Anderson Silva 63'); Edgar, Gerardo, Juan Rodríguez, Nacho; Pablo Couñago (Hidalgo 60'), Salva (Paco Esteban 86'). 4-4-2.
Real Sociedad: Riesgo; López Rekarte, Labaka, Jauregi, Garrido; Novo, Mikel Alonso; Garitano (Nihat 69'), Xabi Prieto, Aranburu (Barkero 69'); Uranga (De Paula 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: No change / Real: Garitano, Uranga for Nihat, Kovacevic.

Goals:
1-0. 62. César Navas. Rose above defence to head Gerardo corner past Riesgo.
2-0. 74. Hidalgo. Cut in to area and placed shot wide of keeper.
3-0. 77. Edgar. Charged down attempted clearance by Riesgo.
3-1. 80. De Paula. Picked up cross from Xabi Prieto and hit low shot past Arnau.

Málaga moved safely up to midtable after beating Real Sociedad 3-1 in the Rosaleda stadium. The visitors were missing injured striker Kovacevic (likely to be out for several months after an operation), and with Nihat rested after Turkey's elimination from the World Cup they put out a line up with eleven local born players for the first time in ten years. But after a first minute free kick from Jauregui which Arnau kept out they hardly created any chances, and the locals could have scored with an effort from Couñago which Aranburu blocked, and another from Fernando Sanz which Riesgo managed to save.

All the goals though came in the last half hour, with César Navas putting the Andalusians in front just after the hour mark when he headed Gerardo's corner past Riesgo. Amorrortu finally turned to Nihat, but soon afterwards substitute Hidalgo added a second after he cut past a couple of defenders to shoot across the young keeper. Just three minutes later Edgar charged down an attempted clearance from Riesgo, the ball bouncing back in to the net off the Portuguese forward, and it was all over. De Paula came on to score a late consolation, but far too late to prevent the San Sebastian side from falling to their third defeat in a row.