Málaga 2 - Villarreal 2

Málaga: Arnau; Jesús Gámez, Helder Rosario, Cuadrado, Calleja; Eliseu, Apoño, Miguel Ángel (Nacho 77'), Duda (Albert Luque 81'); Adrián, Baha (Fernando 77'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Cazorla, Eguren (Bruno 72'), Marcos Senna, Pires (Ibagaza 60'); Rossi, Llorente (Guille Franco 75'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Málaga: Cuadrado for Weligton / Villarreal: Ángel, Eguren for Javi Venta, Bruno.

Goals:
0-1. 07. Rossi. Picked up ball outside area and fired low shot under Arnau.
1-1. 29. Duda. Curled free kick over defensive wall and in to top corner of net.
1-2. 49. Llorente. Collected pass from Pires and struck angled shot past keeper.
2-2. 91. Helder. Got above defence to head Albert Luque corner in from near post.

Yellow cards: Godín 27', Pires 38', Miguel Angel 43', Gámez 52', Calleja 79', Rossi 79', Cuadrado 92'.

Villarreal were the only side in the top four other than Barcelona to pick up a point this weekend, a 2-2 draw at Málaga preserving their unbeaten record in the league this season. Pellegrini's team went ahead twice, Rossi opening the scoring in the seventh minute after running through to shoot under Arnau in the seventh minute. Duda fired a shot just wide of the post though before scoring the equaliser with an excellent free kick which Diego López could do nothing about.

Gonzalo was let off a penalty when the ball hit him on the hand shortly before half time, but just four minutes after the restart Llorente ran on to a Pires pass to restore the lead for the visitors. And they should have gone further ahead when Arnau just kept out Rossi, and Ibagaza's follow up header was headed off the line by a defender.

Arnau did well to keep out another header from Eguren a minute later, but the midfielder had to go off with what looked like a serious injury a few minutes later. However with the game already in injury time Málaga won a corner, and Helder got up to head Albert Luque's kick in to the net (some reports gave the last touch to Adrián). Villarreal still stay second, but they will feel they have missed out on a three-pointer.