Málaga 0 - Valencia 2

Málaga: Calatayud; Gerardo (Alexis 55'), Juanito, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce; Manu (Edgar 77'), Miguel Angel, Duda; Juan Rodríguez (Leko 62'), Amoroso, Geijo. 4-3-3.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, David Navarro, Caneira, Moretti; Marchena, Sissoko; Angulo (Rufete 55'), Aimar, Xisco (Carboni 83'); Corradi (Mista 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Juanito, Manu, Miguel Angel, Juan Rodríguez, Amoroso for Alexis, Litos, Romero, Leko, Wanchope / Valencia: David Navarro, Xisco for Baraja, Di Vaio.

Goals:
0-1. 45. Corradi. Bundled ball into net after defence failed to clear corner.
0-2. 49. Xisco. Ran on to cross from Angulo and fired shot wide of keeper.

Valencia moved back into the Champions' League spots for 24 hours at least after they beat Málaga 0-2, their first win in eleven games. Ranieri was under pressure to get a result and he switched his side around, with Marchena playing in midfield alongside Sissoko and Angulo swapping to the right wing, with Xisco coming in on the left. There was no place for Baraja, Di Vaio and Mista, and Albelda and Palop were missing due to injuries, but Fabio Aurelio was back in the squad after a long injury. Amoroso returned to the Málaga side after a one match ban, taking the place of Wanchope, who was not available.

Ranieri's changes seemed to work, Angulo coming close to scoring a couple of times in the first half, Fernando Sanz clearing his lob out of the goalmouth and the new Spanish international firing another shot just over the bar. And on the stroke of half time they took the lead, albeit under controversial circumstances, Aimar's corner ballooning up into the air off Calatayud after taking a deflection off Gerardo, and Corradi pushing in front of the keeper to bundle the ball over the line. The home side players surrounded referee Muñiz Fernández appealing for a foul on the keeper, but he waved them away and allowed the goal.

Four minutes after the restart Valencia were two up, Xisco beating Calatayud on a quick breakaway after Angulo set him up. Málaga had little reply, an effort from Duda which Cañizares saved their only shot on target in the first half, although Miguel Angel should have pulled one back later in the second half when he shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Mista could have increased the lead near the end if Calatayud had not been on his toes, but Valencia had done enough to get the win they needed prior to their Champions' League visit to Anderlecht midweek. The defeat leaves Málaga just two points above the relegation spots, having not won now in seven games.