Málaga: Caballero; Sergio
Sánchez, Lugano, Weligton, Antunes; Camacho; Portillo, Piazon
(Joaquín 80'), Baptista (Toulalan 59'), Isco; Saviola (Santa Cruz 59').
4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Raúl Fernández; Iraola,
Laporte, Gurpegui (San José 26'), Aurtenetxe; Iturraspe, Ander Herrera;
Susaeta, De Marcos (Llorente 64'), Ibai Gómez; Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 18. Saviola. Placed shot wide of keeper after
Piazon laid ball back.
Yellow cards: Iraola 41', Laporte 60', Camacho 86', Lugano 88'.
Málaga consolidate fourth spot after a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday evening. Saviola got the only goal for Pellegrini's side early in the first half after Piazon crossed in from left of the area, and soon afterwards Baptista brought a good stop out of Raúl Fernández, who had been drafted in by Bielsa after some poor performances by first choice keeper Iraizoz. It was his opposite number Willy Caballero who was the star after that though with a string of first class saves, in particular from Aduríz in the first half, and from De Marcos and Ibai Gómez after the restart. The win takes the Andalusians to within four points of Real Madrid pending their game on Sunday, and leaves the Basque side just six points away from the bottom three.