Malaga 2 : 1 Granada CF - Malaga strike back for Granada win

Ten-man Malaga came from behind to steal a 2-1 Primera Division victory against Andalusian rivals Granada at La Rosaleda Stadium on Saturday.

Malaga were stunned when Youssef El-Arabi gave Granada the lead in the first minute, but the hosts hit back when Roque Santa Cruz levelled just after the hour mark.

Marcos Angeleri saw red in the 73rd minute but, despite being a man down, Malaga clinched all three points when Vitorino Antunes converted a penalty 10 minutes from time after Manuel Iturra was adjudged to have handled in the area.

The win will go some way to relieve the pressure on Malaga manager Javi Gracia, who had not presided over a Los Boquerones victory since their opening-day triumph against Athletic Bilbao.

The game was 48 seconds when the majority of those inside the La Rosaleda Stadium were stunned into silence as a normally goal-shy Granada took the lead.

Morocco forward El-Arabi, who like many of his Granada team-mates has endured a less-than-prolific start to the new La Liga season, opened his account when his fizzing low shot from inside the penalty area beat Malaga keeper Idriss Carlos Kameni to give the visitors the earliest of leads.

A shell-shocked Malaga tried to get back on level terms but were limited to long-range efforts as the Granada backline mopped up any danger with the minimum of fuss.

Malaga imposed themselves more after the half-time break and found parity in the 61st minute when skipper Santa Cruz bundled home from close range.

The hosts' celebrations were short-lived as Angeleri was given his marching orders 12 minutes later for a professional foul on Granada midfielder Abdoul Sissoko, but there was to be a late twist in the tale.

The pockets of Granada support groaned in frustration when referee Carlos Velasco Carballo immediately pointed to the spot after the ball hit Iturra's arm with 10 minutes remaining.

Antunes kept his composure to slot his low penalty past Granada stopper Roberto to seal Malaga's first victory in six league games.