Malaga bow out for the season with a bang

Cop the deadlock-breaker

It was an evenly matched opening to the encounter, with both teams looking to impose their game, although neither was able to really take control of the ball. However, the balance tilted in Malaga CF's favour in the 26th minute. Duje Cop made it 1-0 to the hosts with his seventh goal of the season, an exquisite glancing header.

Willian Jose's quick-fire riposte

It took just five minutes for UD Las Palmas to level. A corner was swung to the far post, where it was met by Tana, whose cushioned volley was prodded into the net by Willian Jose from barely a yard out. Malaga cannot say that they had not been warned about Jose's threat, as the forward had hit the woodwork with a header back when it was still 0-0.

Charles restores Malaga's lead

With just a minute to go in the first half, Charles gave his side the advantage again from the spot, after the referee adjudged Mauricio Lemos to have handled in the area. The Brazilian stepped up and calmly dispatched his penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Atsu settles it and Charles adds extra gloss

At 2-1, Las Palmas had several chances to get back on terms for a second time, only to be thwarted by Guillermo Ochoa between the Malaga sticks. With the Canary Islanders pushing forward but failing to convert pressure into goals, the home team showed them how it's done with a couple of fell swoops. First Christian Atsu fired in a low finish after a fine solo run, and then Charles rounded off the scoring by getting on the end of a cross. This was the perfect conclusion to an excellent campaign by the Brazilian, his side's top scorer with 12 league goals.

A tale of two turnarounds

Neither of these final-day opponents got off to a good start to the season. Back on Matchday 14, Malaga were languishing in 17th while Las Palmas were propping up the Liga BBVA table. However, both teams stormed back and enjoyed a great second half of the campaign, with Javi Gracia's men bringing the curtain down in eighth place and Quique Setien having helped his side to a somewhat magical 44-point mark.