Malaga welcomed Elche to La Rosaleda on Sunday looking to end a run of seven games without a win in La Liga.
The visitors led 1-0 at the interval courtesy of a close-range finish from Jonathas.
Elche were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute when Polish goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton was sent from the field for pulling Javi Guerra to the ground inside the box, but the resulting penalty from Duda struck the post.
The away side scored their second late on when Mario Pasalic converted a cross from Jonathas, before Guerra scored what proved to be a consolation for Malaga in the fourth minute of added time.
Fran Escriba's Elche can no longer be relegated from Spain's top flight via their league position.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from La Rosaleda as Malaga welcome Elche. The home side might be above their opponents in the table, but Elche are, without question, the form team entering this match. It has all the makings of an entertaining affair in Spain's top flight.
Malaga have dropped to eighth position in the La Liga table following a run that has seen them fail to win in seven league games. They were beaten 1-0 at Celta Vigo on Wednesday and have also lost to Eibar and dropped points against Deportivo La Coruna during a really poor recent run of form.
That said, Malaga's home form has been impressive this season – losing just three of their 17 games on home soil and winning eight times in the process. On the road, however, they have been beaten on 10 occasions, which has certainly harmed their challenge to push higher up the table at this stage.
Elche, meanwhile, will enter this match having won three of their last four games in the league. They recorded vital wins over Cordoba and Real Sociedad, before losing 3-0 at Atletico Madrid on April 25. On Wednesday, however, they returned to form in wonderful fashion with a 4-0 win over Deportivo.
As a result, Elche are now seven points clear of the relegation zone and 18th-place Deportivo have indeed played a game more (35). Fran Escriba's side have won 10 league games this season, meanwhile, six of which have been at home and four of which have been on their travels.
TEAMS:
MAL: Kameni; Rosales, Sanchez, Weligton, Boka; Darder, Camacho; Samu, Amrabat, Castillejo; Juanmi
ELCHE: Tyton; Cisma, Lomban, Roco, Suarez; Mosquera, Pasalic; Victor, Fajr, Rodrigues; Jonathas
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium as the home side get the first 45 minutes underway.
As expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, but Elche are indeed set up to play on the counter attack here. It should be an entertaining match-up.
Elche have managed to settle fairly quickly, which is not much of a surprise. The visitors have put together a really strong run of results and they will enter this match full of confidence here.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the opening six minutes, with Elche comfortable in defensive areas. Just a reminder that Malaga have relinquished seventh position to Athletic Bilbao and they really need to return to winning ways as soon as possible. Tonight would be a good start.
Not much of a tempo to the game at the moment, with neither side creating much in the final third. It is the type of match where the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vitally important.
Malaga threaten down the left as Boka sets up Castillejo, who drops his shoulder before delivering towards Juanmi, but Cisma is on hand to clear. Much better work from the home side there.
To be blunt, not too much is happening at the moment. The tempo has not been great and Elche are comfortable defensively as Malaga struggle to find that elusive pass in the final third here.
Darder clips a wonderful pass into Rosales as Malaga manage to break through the lines, but the defender just cannot collect and Elche have a goal kick. It is an interesting tactical battle here.
It has been an 'almost, but not quite' half for Malaga thus far, with a number of passes just failing to find their destination. Elche have thus far not been able to make their mark in the final third.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Malaga have the ball in the back of the net as Juanmi heads a Samuel cross into the bottom corner, but the striker was just and I mean just leaning in an offside position.
Malaga are in control at the moment as they continue to pass and probe in the final third, but Elche are not really having to desperately defend their own box. It has been a low-key opening 20 minutes.
Elche have had a period of possession in the last couple of minutes, but Malaga's back four has been very comfortable thus far. We are in desperate need of some inspiration at the moment!
The first corner of the match comes to Elche after 24 minutes and that is an indication of the type of match that it has been thus far. Fajr delivers towards Roco, but his header is over the crossbar.
This has the feeling of a pre-season friendly, and not a very good one.
I was going to say that there is not much to play for in this game, with Elche pretty much safe from the drop (via their league position at least). However, Malaga want that seventh position in the table.
GOAL! Malaga 0-1 Elche (Jonathas)
Elche take the lead in the 29th minute as Victor races down the right before sliding a pass into Jonathas, who finishes first-time into the bottom corner. Devastating counter attack there!
You cannot say that it has been coming, but Malaga have been poor in the opening 30 minutes and they left the back door wide open there. Elche are in such glorious form at the moment!
It has been a very frustrating half for the home side, with a number of fouls just slowing the tempo. Elche are awfully comfortable at the moment as they continue to defend their own penalty box.
CHANCE! Super chance for the home side as Amrabat delivers a low cross towards Juanmi, but the striker gets it all wrong and fires wide. That really should have been the equaliser here.
BOOKING! Samuel (Malaga) is booked for a late challenge on Victor.
Fajr takes the resulting free kick, but his effort hits the top of the wall before drifting behind.
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Amrabat uses his strength and pace to bully his way into the Elche box before delivering towards Juanmi, but Lomban is across to clear at the vital moment!
BOOKING! Juanmi (Malaga) is booked for a late challenge on Lomban.
SAVE! Malaga continue to force the issue as Juanmi pounces before striking towards the bottom corner, but Tyton is on hand to make the save. Good pressure from the hosts here.
Victor is down receiving treatment for the away side, which brings whistles from the home fans.
The offside flag has not been kind to Malaga in this half as two more decisions go against them. Elche have managed to keep a strong line at the back, and they still lead with 44 minutes on the clock.
HALF-TIME: Malaga 0-1 Elche
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Elche leading 1-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Jonathas. Malaga have had a couple of good opportunities, but have thus far been unable to make the breakthrough. It is nicely poised with another 45+ minutes ahead of us.
STATS! The home side have just shaded the possession with 52%, while they have had three attempts - just one of which has been on target. Elche, meanwhile, have hit the target with two of their four attempts. There have also been two yellow cards, both of which have been awarded to the hosts.
BENCH WATCH! Malaga boss Javi Gracia has plenty of attacking options on his bench this evening, with the likes of Duda, Javi Guerra and Horta all capable of making a difference. Elche, meanwhile, have the likes of Coro, Herrera and Aaron Niguez in reserve. Two attack-minded benches here.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Malaga find a route back into this game? It is in-form Elche that get the second 45 minutes underway here.
SUB! Malaga have made one change at the break with Guerra replacing Castillejo.
As it stands, Elche would be mathematically safe from relegation, but they could still be relegated via other means due to their financial problems. It is a really sticky situation for the in-form side.
Half-chance for the away side as Lomban meets a deep free kick from Fajr, but his header was always moving wide of the post. Malaga really need their supporters to stay with them in this match.
CHANCE! Malaga come close to levelling as Tyton fails to gather a loose ball, which allows Amrabat a strike on goal, but the Elche goalkeeper makes a super save before the danger is hacked clear!
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Amrabat sets up Boka inside the Elche box, but the Ivorian's low effort was always moving wide of the post. Elche are under pressure here.
It has been a good spell for Malaga in the last few minutes, but they are still 1-0 behind and Elche are more than happy to play on the counter attack here. It is a tricky situation for the home side.
Victor tries his luck for the away side after working his way to the edge of the Malaga box, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Still 1-0 Elche with 55 minutes on the clock here.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Malaga again have the ball in the back of the net, but again it is disallowed as Amrabat is adjudged to have jumped into Tyton, who lost the flight of a deep cross.
BOOKING! Suarez (Elche) is booked for a poor challenge on Amrabat.
All the pressure is coming from Malaga, but they just cannot make the breakthrough. Still plenty of time remaining, but the home supporters are getting very twitchy as we head for the final 30 here.
SAVE! Good goalkeeping from Tyton as the Elche stopper denies Camacho, who had met a low free kick just inside the box. Elche are surviving by their skin of their teeth at the moment!
GOAL DISALLOWED! Malaga have a third goal disallowed as Samu is ruled offside.
CHANCE! Incredible chance for Elche to score a second as Rodrigues drives into the Malaga box before squaring for Pasalic, but his effort is wide of the post. It is a quite stunning miss!
It took a little while for this game to get going, but it is a proper contest at the moment as the play continues to flow from end-to-end. Still just the one goal separating the two teams, however.
SUB! Elche make their first change as Niguez replaces Rodrigues.
SUB! Malaga make their second change as Duda replaces Juanmi.
The pressure is relentless from Malaga, but they are being caught offside far too often and Elche have been very good at the back this evening. Is there to be some drama in the final 20 minutes here?
PENALTY MALAGA AND RED CARD! TYTON!
Elche's goalkeeper Tyton is sent from the field for pulling Guerra to the ground inside the box. This game has potentially changed in that one moment. Malaga have the chance to level from the spot.
BOOKING! Duda (Malaga) is booked for pushing Niguez in the face!
It is all kicking off here! Handbags between the two sets of players!
SUB! Elche bring on their second goalkeeper Herrera in place of Victor.
It has all settled down and Duda will take the spot kick for the home side...
... POST! Duda hits the post from the spot! Incredible!
SUB! Malaga make their third change as Horta replaces Rosales.
Duda is absolutely furious with himself and he just needs to calm down having picked up a booking before taking the penalty. It is going to be some final 10 minutes or so to this fascinating clash.
It has been a very frustrating night for Malaga, but they still have time to rescue something. Elche have ridden their luck for long spells and they are currently a man down with 80 minutes on the clock.
Duda delivers a deep cross towards Amrabat, but Herrera comes out to claim before releasing Lomban in a wide position. Elche attempt to push forward, but they just cannot keep the ball at the moment.
Pasalic dances into the Malaga box, but the midfielder cannot release a strike and his shouts for a penalty are ignored by the referee. Little over five minutes of normal time remaining here.
CHANCE! Amrabat uses his power to drive past Lomban before striking towards the top corner, but his effort is high of the crossbar. How on earth are Malaga still behind in this game?!
SUB! Elche make their third change as Pelegrin replaces Lomban.
Guerra tries his luck for the home side, but it is a fairly comfortable save for Herrera, who takes his time before releasing towards Jonathas. Elche are so close to a wonderful three points here.
GOAL! Malaga 0-2 Elche (Pasalic)
Elche have their second of the evening on the counter as Jonathas races into the Malaga half before setting up Pasalic, who finishes into the bottom corner. Another super goal from the visitors!
This stadium has just emptied within the space of 60 seconds! Incredible!
The fourth official has indicated that we will play an additional six minutes here.
Malaga continue to press forward, but it just is not happening and Elche are still a threat on the counter attack. It is going to be eight league games without a win for Malaga, incredible really.
GOAL! Malaga 1-2 Elche (Guerra)
Malaga have a lifeline as Guerra converts from close range after Amrabat had struck the crossbar!
Malaga couldn't? Could they?
Darder fires straight at Herrera as Malaga search for the unlikeliest of equalisers here.
Duda stings the palms of Herrera as the home side continue to press forward.
FULL-TIME: Malaga 1-2 Elche
So there we have it. Incredible drama at La Rosaleda as Elche, who can no longer be relegated via their league position, hold on to beat Malaga 2-1. The home side are now eight games without a win in Spain's top flight. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
