Málaga: Willy Caballero; Jesús
Gámez, Demichelis, Weligton, Eliseu; Toulalan, Iturra (Camacho 58');
Joaquín (Duda 85'), Baptista, Isco; Saviola (Seba Fernández 65').
4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Silvio (Salomao 69'),
Aythami (Alex Bergantiños 82'), Zé Castro, Ayoze (Nelson Oliveira
65'); Abel Aguilar, Juan Domínguez; Bruno Gama, Valerón, Pizzi;
Riki. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 45. Saviola. Acrobatic volley past Aranzubia
from wide Joaquín free kick.
2-0. 64. Baptista. Picked up Saviola
return pass and held off Aythami to score.
2-1. 75. Salomao. Far post
volley from Gama cross which bounced over keeper.
3-1. 80. Isco. Picked up
Joaquín pass and turned past Aythami to shoot in off bar.
Yellow cards: Iturra 55', Juan Domínguez 65', Jesús Gámez 90'.
Deportivo remain a point above the drop zone despite a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Málaga, and if they win at home to Real Sociedad next weekend they will stay up. Their hosts this weekend are still waiting for the appeal against their European ban to be held, but in the meantime they wanted to consolidate their position in the top six, and Joaquín headed wide in the opening minutes. Riki and Valerón replied for the visitors, but with the first half coming to a close Saviola got on the end of a wide Joaquín free kick to turn the ball past Aranzubia. After the restart the visiting keeper saved from Baptista, but he could do nothing soon afterwards when the Brazilian forward picked up Saviola's return pass and held off his marker to score his side's second. With a quarter of an hour to go substitute Salomao gave his side hope with a volley from a Bruno Gama cross which bounced over the head of Willy Caballero in to the net, but five minutes later Isco wrapped things up with a third goal, and although Pizzi hit the bar with a late free kick, there was no way back for Fernando Vázquez's side.