Málaga 5 - Espanyol 2

Málaga: Arnau; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Juanito, Valcarce; Leko, Miguel Angel; Manu (Alexis 83'), Edgar (Insúa 78'), Duda (Luque 72'); Salva. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Lemmens; Domoraud, Lopo, Pochettino, David García (Vignal 66'); Fredson, De la Peña; Maxi, Jordi Cruyff (Tayfun 62'), Hadji (Raducanu 56'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Arnau, Leko, Manu for Calatayud, Rojas, Gerardo / Espanyol: Hadji, Tamudo for Morales, Raducanu.

Goals:
1-0. 35. Miguel Angel. At second try after keeper blocked first shot following corner.
2-0. 38. Manu. Hit long shot from outside area which went through keeper's hands.
2-1. 44. Lopo. Header on near post from De la Peña's corner.
3-1. 45. Juanito. Bundled ball in on far post from Duda's long free kick.
4-1. 60. Salva. Ran in to head Manu's cross into net from close up.
4-2. 76. Tamudo. Following up after Raducanu's first shot saved by Arnau.
5-2. 83. Insúa. Headed back across keeper from Luque's left-sided cross.

Seven goals at the Rosaleda stadium, where Málaga put an end to their run of six defeats in a row with a 5-2 win over next to bottom Espanyol. Both sides could have scored early on, with Manu and Salva both failing to meet Duda's dangerous cross and Tamudo wasting a chance at the other end. However the locals scored twice in three minutes late in the first half, Miguel Angel forcing the ball into the net following a corner and Lemmens letting a weak Manu shot roll through his hands.

Lopo headed one back on the stroke of half time, but before the whistle went Málaga struck back with another goal from Juanito. Duda shot just wide after the restart and a Domoraud cross bounced off the crossbar. But Salva headed a fourth after the restart and both keepers made good saves, Lemmens from Edgar and Arnau from Raducanu, before Tamudo replied again for the visitors. It was still not over though, and Insúa made it five near the end to complete the rout.