Malaga off bottom after win

Malaga moved off the bottom of the Primera Division following a 3-1 win at home to nine-man Almeria in a hard-fought Andalusian derby.

Manuel Pellegrini's side came from a goal behind to seal a valuable victory against their regional rivals, who finished with nine players on the pitch following the dismissals of Leonardo Ulloa and Antonio Luna.

Almeria, who began the day second to bottom, one point better off than Malaga, went ahead after eight minutes when on-loan midfielder Sofiane Feghouli took advantage of a mistake from keeper Willy Caballero to slot home from close range.

The visitors were still ahead at half-time, but Malaga got back in the match seven minutes after the break, when Enzo Maresca pounced on a loose ball, beat his marker and fired past Diego Alves.

The game was an even affair after that, but Malaga took control after Ulloa was sent off for an elbow on Eliseu Pereira - his second yellow card.

That happened after 76 minutes and two minutes later, Malaga took the lead.

Unmarked Venezuelan forward Jose Salomon Rondon was left all alone to finish off a neat move after he was set up by the lively Apono.

Now ahead for the first time in the game, Malaga's task was made even easier with two minutes left, when Luna was shown his second yellow for handball.

Moments later, Maresca set up Juanmi for a third to give Malaga a much-needed victory.

Pellegrini's men leapfrog Almeria, who are now bottom with 13 games still left.