Málaga: Kameni; Jesús
Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Cazorla, Nacho Camacho;
Joaquín (Sergio Sánchez 86'), Isco, Eliseu (Duda 68');
Rondón (Van Nistelrooy 74'). 4-2-3-1.
Sporting:
Juan Pablo; Damián Suárez (Pedro Orfila 46'), Gregory,
Botía, Alex Menéndez; Lora, Gálvez; De las Cuevas, Trejo
(Nacho Cases 65'), Ayoze (Colunga 46'); Sangoy. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 48. Rondón. Got up on back post to head
Cazorla corner past Juan Pablo.
Yellow cards: Damián Suárez 23', Camacho 27', Cazorla 33', Alex Menéndez 34', Lora 52', Gálvez 58', Isco 70', 88', Botía 71' / red cards: Isco 88'.
Sporting Gijón were relegated as expected after a 1-0 defeat at Málaga on the last day of the season. The Asturians needed an unlikely chain of events to save themselves, but first of all they had to win against a side who were defending their fourth position in the league. In the end though Clemente's team hardly got near to Kameni's goal, and only a string of great saves by Juan Pablo prevented the locals from going ahead before the break. Rondón also headed a Joaquín free kick against the post, but early in the second half the Venezuelan striker got on the end of Cazorla's corner to steer a header down past the keeper. With Atlético on their heels though, the Andalusians needed another to be safe, and they kept up the pressure in to the second half, Juan Pablo in action again to save from Cazorla and Van Nistelrooy, who was playing his last match before retiring. When Isco was sent off near the end for a second bookable offence it was more a question of defending, but Sporting had already given up, and Pellegrini's side qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. The massive investments by their new shareholders is already starting to bear fruit.