Osasuna upset Malaga

Osasuna caused an upset at La Rosaleda as they defeated Malaga 1-0 for only their second win of the season.

Osasuna caused an upset at La Rosaleda as they defeated Malaga to record only their second win of the new Primera Division season. Oriol Riera's goal during an impressive first-half showing from the Pamplona side settled the contest as Osasuna, who had lost six of their seven games coming into the match, recorded their first away triumph since March. The win was still not enough to lift Osasuna out of the relegation places, but they are now level on six points with the four teams immediately above them and within three points of 10th-placed Malaga. Malaga started the season with back-to-back defeats as they rebuilt following the summer departures of Manuel Pellegrini, Isco, Martin Demichelis and Joaquin, but since then the Andalusian side were unbeaten in five matches. Their last two home games had resulted in a 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano and a 2-0 triumph over Almeria, so home fans will have been in optimistic mood heading into the clash with struggling Osasuna. However, last season's Champions League quarter-finalists were given an early warning it was not going to be an easy night as Riera's 18-yard effort inside 90 seconds forced home goalkeeper Willy Caballero into a diving parry. Miguel De las Cuevas then saw a rising shot go over the bar before Osasuna took a 26th-minute lead through Riera, who slammed home the loose ball after Willy had saved his initial effort. It was very nearly 2-0 three minutes later as Willy was called upon to make a brilliant double save to deny Emiliano Armenteros and Sisi, and the Argentinian performed more heroics in 33rd minute to keep out another Armenteros effort. The visitors continued to push for a second goal before the break, but Malaga kept the score at 1-0 going into the interval. Malaga coach Bernd Schuster made two changes at half-time in a bid to turn the tide, but the hosts had to wait until the 66th minute to fashion a chance with Andres Fernandez saving from Roque Santa Cruz. Fernando Tissone tried his luck as Malaga became increasingly desperate, but the Andalusian side found chances hard to come by in the closing stages as Osasuna held on for a much-welcomed three points.