Malaga overcame a late scare to beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 in this evening's La Liga encounter.

Julio Baptista broke free after just eight minutes, but he could not keep his cool in front of goal to give the home side the lead.

Ze Castro had Deportivo's first effort on goal after 19 minutes, though he couldn't find the target.

Malaga came close just after the half hour mark when Isco struck towards goal, though the goalkeeper denied the playmaker with a fine save.

The home side eventually took the lead just before half time when Joaquin set up Javier Saviola, who made no mistake with the finish to make it 1-0.

Malaga continued to force the issue in the second half and got their reward on 65 minutes when Saviola set up Baptista, who made it 2-0.

Baptista found himself in on goal after 75 minutes, though this time he could not hit the target.

A minute later, the away side pulled a goal back though a fine finish from Diogo Salomao.

Isco restored his side's two-goal advantage on 80 minutes to all but secure the points for Manuel Pellegrini's side.