Malaga slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Espanyol in La Liga tonight courtesy of goals from Alvaro Gonzalez and Sergio Garcia.

After a quiet opening to the game, Sergi Darder went close to opening the scoring for the hosts with a shot which flashed inches past the post.

Espanyol took the lead shortly before half time when Gonzalez headed in Sakla Seville's pinpoint cross.

Malaga pushed for an equaliser in the second half and went close through Jaunmi's header and Javi Guerra's drilled shot, before Espanyol's Diego Colotto handled the ball in the area and conceded a penalty.

Colotto was sent off, but Nordin Amrabat's penalty was saved by goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.

Garcia wrapped the game up for Espanyol as he fired the ball into the net following a sharp counter-attack.