First Division - Day 38

Málaga 1 - Real Madrid 1

Málaga: Munúa; Jesús Gámez, Iván González, Helder Rosario, Mtiglia; Fernando, Apoño; Javi López (Juanito 78'), Benachour (Albert Luque 82'), Duda; Caicedo (Obinna 59'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Garay, Marcelo; Granero (Benzema 71'), Gago (Guti 59'), Xavi Alonso, Van der Vaart (Drenthe 80'); Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Duda. Picked up return pass from Caicedo and fired shot past Casillas.
1-1. 48. Van der Vaart. Collected Marcelo pass and beat Munúa with shot on turn.

Yellow cards: Gámez 10', Van der Vaart 25', Higuaín 27', Guti 28', Helder 38', Obinna 83', Cristiano Ronaldo 86', Luque 87' / red cards: Duda 92'.

Real Madrid finish a disappointing second behind Barcelona after they could only draw 1-1 at Málaga, although knowing the result from the Nou Camp Pellegrini's side can be forgiven for not giving it 100% in their last match.

Málaga themselves were struggling to avoid relegation, and Duda delighted the local fans when he picked up a back-heel pass from Caicedo to open the scoring in the ninth minute. Munúa was called upon after that to keep out a Cristiano Ronaldo header and a Van der Vaart free kick, but Madrid were lucky to be let off the hook when the referee failed to spot a push by Sergio Ramos on Caicedo soon after the restart.

A couple of minutes later Van der Vaart equalised with a quick shot on the turn after picking up a pass from Marcelo, but with Munúa on top form that was the best they could do. Málaga were safe, and Madrid ended the season empty-handed despite a record 96 points. Three points short though, and Pellegrini could pay for that with his job.