Málaga 3 - Atlético Madrid 1

Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta (Litos 80'), Valcarce; Gerardo, Romero, Musampa; Sandro (Manu 66'); Darío Silva, Dely Valdés (Miguel Angel 68'). 4-3-1-2.
Atlético: Esteban; Aguilera, García Calvo, Hibic, Sergi (Burgos 64'); Contra (José Marí 53'), Albertini, Movilla, Emerson, Luis García (Javi Moreno 62'); Fernando Torres. 4-5-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Romero for Miguel Angel / Atlético: Esteban, García Calvo, Movilla, Contra for Burgos, Otero, Santi, Correa.

Goals:
1-0. 44. Dely Valdés (penalty). Musampa brought down by Contra after good run.
2-0. 65. Fernando Sanz. Following up after Burgos saved Dely Valdés penalty.
3-0. 71. Manu. Fired spectacular shot into top corner of net.
3-1. 95. José Marí. Controlled ball on upper arm and shot low wide of keeper.

Málaga are a team on form, and they go up to third in the table after a 3-1 victory over an Atlético Madrid. The visitors struck first though, with Luis García hitting the post in the twelfth minute. However the excellent Musampa won his side a penalty just before half time when his long run was eventually stopped illegally by Contra, and Dely Valdés tucked his kick wide of Esteban, who had been preferred in goal to Mono Burgos.

Midway through the second half referee González Vázquez awarded a second penalty to the home side when Esteban brought down Darío Silva, sending off the visiting keeper into the bargain. Burgos came on and stuck out a foot to save Dely's kick, but Fernando Sanz was quicker than anyone to get to the ball and beat the Argentine keeper from a wide angle. Peiró rested Sandro to bring on Manu, and the ex Real Madrid youngster scored a spectacular third only five minutes later, whipping the ball past Burgos into the top corner of the net, and only the post and a good save by the keeper prevented Musampa from adding a fourth.

Tempers began to fray, and Emerson and Albertini both found themselves joining Esteban in the early bath after picking up second yellow cards for protesting in the final minutes. Even so the eight men managed a consolation goal, González turning a blind eye as José Marí controlled the ball with his upper arm before rolling it past Contreras. It was Málaga's night though, and they extend their unbeaten run to fourteen matches this season.