Málaga: Willy Caballero; Sergio
Sánchez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Toulalan, Duda (Nacho Camacho
61'); Cazorla, Seba Fernández (Buonanotte 71'), Isco; Rondón (Van
Nistelrooy 61'). 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Diego López;
Mario Gaspar (Joselu 85'), Gonzalo, Musacchio, Joan Oriol; Ángel
López (Marcos Senna 67'), Bruno; De Guzmán (Moisés
Gómez 53'), Borja Valero, Hernán Pérez; Marco
Rubén. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 04. Toulalan. Ran in to head Cazorla corner past
keeper on near post.
1-1. 15. Marco Rubén. Picked up Borja pass and
fired angled shot past Willy.
2-1. 40. Isco. Poked ball in to net after
Diego López saved from Rondón.
Yellow cards: Ángel 32', Bruno 35', Toulalan 64', 74', Caballero 78', Hernán Pérez 87', Buonanotte 88' / red cards: Toulalan 74'.
The Monday night game saw Málaga move back up to fifth in the table after a 2-1 victory over Villarreal. Toulalan opened the scoring for the Andalusians in the fourth minute, running in to head Cazorla's corner past Diego López on the near post. And although Marco Rubén equalised a few minutes later after Borja Valero set him up, Isco restored the lead for the locals just before the break after Diego could only get a hand to an angled shot from Rondón. With a quarter of an hour to go Málaga were left with ten men when Toulalan picked up a harsh second booking, and from the resulting free kick Caballero had to be at his best to push Valero's shot on to the crossbar. Substitute Joselu also went close, but the ten men held on for a third win in a row which takes Pellegrini's side to within three points of the Champions League spots.