Málaga 0 - Villarreal 0

Málaga: Arnau; Alexis, César Navas, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce; Jesús Gámez, Edgar, Hidalgo, Nacho; Usero (Chengue Morales 46'), Salva (Paco Esteban 82'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Viera; Kromkamp, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Alcántara; Josico (César Arzo 50'), Marcos Senna; Cazorla (Roger 82'), Guayre (Figueroa 78'), Riquelme; Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Valcarce, Usero for Gerardo, Anderson Silva, / Villarreal: Alcántara, Cazorla, Guayre for Arruabarrena, Héctor Font, José Marí.

Goals: None.

Villarreal drop to fourth after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Málaga. The visitors were on top throughout the first half, with Riquelme getting on the end of Kromkamp's cross but shooting wide early on, and Arnau saving well from Riquelme, Diego Forlán and Guayre. Edgar could have given his side the lead before all of that though, but he dallied too long and allowed Peña to clear.

Referee Teixeira Vitienes was the protagonist at the start of the second half though, turning down penalty appeals by Chengue Morales and Nacho, and then booking Edgar for what he considered at first to be a dive. But after consulting with his linesman he changed his mind and pointed to the spot, much to the disgust of the visiting players. However Salva struck a weak shot which was saved by Viera, and when he went for the follow up he slipped and shot wide. Both keepers were in action after that, Arnau saving from Forlán and Viera keeping out Nacho, but in the end the two sides settled for a point.