Mallorca 0 : 1 Malaga - Demichelis seals win for Malaga

Martin Demichelis' first-half header was enough to hand Malaga a 1-0 win away at Real Mallorca.

In a game of few chances Santi Cazorla was acrobatically denied by Dudu Aouate before Demichelis' header from Cazorla's cross was deflected in off Pablo Caceres.

The hosts lacked a goalscoring threat throughout the game and their most dangerous moment came when Emilio Nsue's claimed for a penalty after an apparent push by Demichelis.

Manuel Pellegrini welcomed Julio Baptista back into the starting line-up for the first time this season in place of Salomon Rondon, but it was the Brazilian's strike partner Ruud Van Nistelrooy who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on with a delicate chip over Aouate that clipped the bar.

The Dutch striker then had his own half-hearted appeals for a penalty turned down before Cazorla's volley at the back post was scrambled off the line by Aouate.

The goal arrived for the visitors five minutes before half-time when Cazorla's free-kick from the left found Demichelis unmarked and his downward header struck Caceres on the thigh and rebounded past the helpless Aouate.

Nsue then claimed for a penalty right on half-time when he and Demichelis collided just inside the area but referee Perez Lasa gave the Argentine centre-back the benefit of the doubt.

Mallorca failed to trouble Malaga at all in the second period and the visitors were unlucky not to extend their lead when substitute Rondon had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.

The Venezuelan then had another opportunity five minutes from time but his fierce drive form the edge of the area was beaten away by Aouate.