Málaga 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Málaga: Arnau; Gerardo, Litos, Alexis, Nacho; Edgar, Bovio (Juan Rodríguez 87'), Hidalgo, Antonio López (Gabriel 63'); Pablo Couñago (César Navas 72'), Salva. 4-4-2.
Athletic: Lafuente; Iraola, Luis Prieto (Tiko 78'), Ustariz, Lacruz, Amorebieta; Aduriz (Urzaiz 65'), Orbaiz, Gurpegui, Yeste; Llorente (Dañobeitia 52'). 5-4-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Nacho, Edgar, Hidalgo for Fernando Sanz, Gabriel, Juan Rodríguez / Athletic: Llorente for Urzaiz.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Litos. Got above defence to head Hidalgo free kick wide of keeper.
1-1. 40. Aduriz. From close up after Llorente headed across Yeste free kick.
2-1. 73. Salva. Directed header past keeper on far post from Hidalgo free kick.

Málaga moved out of the relegation zone pending Sunday's games after beating fellow strugglers Athletic Bilbao 2-1. Manolo Hierro (brother of ex Real Madrid defender Fernando) was in charge for the first time after Antonio Tapia was fired midweek, and he saw his side take the lead on the half hour mark when Litos headed home Hidalgo's free kick.

Local keeper Arnau had done well to keep out Aduriz in the opening minutes, but five minutes before the break he could do nothing to stop the striker from heading in close to goal after Llorente had headed across Yeste's free kick. Málaga thought they had equalised three minutes later when Salva got the ball in the net, but referee Pérez Lima pulled up the play for a previous foul on Lacruz.

The battle continued in midfield during the second half, with little chances for either side. With twenty minutes to go Athletic seemed to have the edge when Nacho was sent off for a second bookable offence, but a couple of minutes later Salva got on the end of another Hidalgo free kick to head home what was to be the winner. When Gurpegui headed over the bar in injury time it was all over, leaving the Basque side once again back down in the bottom three.