Sporting de Gijon 1 - 0 Malaga: Alen Halilovic on target as Sporting Gijon edge Malaga

Alen Halilovic further cemented his importance to Sporting Gijon by scoring the only goal in his side's 1-0 win at home to Malaga.

The Croatian's low, sweeping drive after 27 minutes takes the Asturians all the way up to 12th in the Primera Division with 12 points, just three more than Malaga, who slip down to the last place above the relegation zone.

The acquisition of the Croatian international for a season's loan from Barcelona is proving to be one of the coups of the summer for Sporting. In just eight starts the midfielder has scored twice and provided three assists, as well as being the main creative force for his side.

Neither team was giving much away in the opening stages of the game at El Molinon and it was the technical ability and the composure of Halilovic that proved the difference, the 19-year-old ghosting into the area unchecked to curl Sergio Alvarez's cutback into the bottom corner with one touch.

Malaga had no shortage of chances to level in either half, with Juankar and Charles both passing up simple opportunities to beat Ivan Cuellar in the Sporting goal.

Halilovic continued to drive the visitors forward and he came close to adding to his goal - hitting the crossbar twice in the final 10 minutes - but his first-half strike proved enough to earn his side maximum points.