Malaga fire four past Valencia

Malaga registered their first league win in five games as they hammered Valencia 4-0 at La Rosaleda. The margin of victory could have been even greater for the hosts, who controlled the game from the off and went ahead just eight minutes in when Francisco Portillo curled home from Eliseu's cut-back. Joaquin and Javier Saviola squandered a number of chances to increase the lead before the latter made it 2-0 15 minutes from time, a goal that was quickly followed by a third from Roque Santa Cruz. Valencia were then reduced to ten men as Adil Rami saw a second yellow card and Isco rounded off a fantastic evening for Malaga with a fourth in added time. Victory moves Malaga back into the top four for at least 24 hours ahead of Levante's meeting with Barcelona, while a seventh away game without victory this season sees Valencia slip four points off the UEFA Champions League places. The hosts got off to the perfect start as Eliseu burst down the left and showed good composure to pick out Portillo, who brilliantly cushioned his shot past Diego Alves for only his second senior goal for the club. And the home side should have finished the game off before half-time as Saviola slashed wildly over when clean through on goal before Joaquin somehow failed to make contact with Jesus Gamez's cross with the goal at his mercy. Alves then had to be alert to make great saves from ex-Valencia winger Joaquin and Saviola either side of the break, while the Argentinian also pulled a shot just wide from another good opening. Late flurry from Malaga Former Barcelona striker Saviola did finally find the net when he collected Portillo's reverse pass inside the area and fired low past Alves with the aid of a slight deflection. Santa Cruz replaced Joaquin with 12 minutes remaining and took just three minutes to register his fourth goal of the season as Gamez's deflected cross fell perfectly for him six yards out and he calmly slotted past Alves. Rami continued Valencia's miserable evening by getting needlessly sent off six minutes from time for arguing with the referee, and Isco rubbed salt into their wounds with a goal his performance deserved as he picked the ball up 20 yards out and arrowed a shot into Alves' bottom right-hand corner. From FIFA