A point apiece keeps Malaga and Espanyol going strong

Diop does it again
RCD Espanyol set out their stall very effectively and after the two sides felt each other out in the early exchanges, the visitors took the lead from their first chance. Just like in their previous match against Athletic Club, Pape Diop opened his side's account. The parallels did not stop there, as once again he produced a towering header from a corner to get on the scoresheet, rising highest to bullet the ball into the back of the net in the 12th minute.

Cop converts from the spot
Espanyol grew in stature and poise after going ahead, whereas it was a different story altogether for Malaga CF, who endured a frustrating spell in which they struggled to get on the ball. However, little by little the hosts found their feet and began to venture forward. Charles unsuccessfully tried his luck before the Andalusians were handed a route back into it right on the stroke of half-time, when Victor Sanchez felled Juanpi in the area. The referee pointed to the spot and Croatian forward Duje Cop stepped up, confidently dispatching his penalty into the side of the net past Pau Lopez's despairing dive.

Pau prevents another
The second half was a keenly contested affair largely played out in the middle of the park, but Malaga gradually gained the upper hand and had the more threatening openings. The home side tested the Espanyol shotstopper on no fewer than three occasions within a short space of time, but he proved equal to efforts from Charles, Recio and Christian Atsu.

Malaga fail to make late chance count
Javi Gracia's men continued to look the likelier to grab a winner, while Espanyol held back, clearly opting for a safety-first approach. So it transpired that with two minutes to go, Charles had a golden chance to turn one point into three. The Brazilian found himself one-on-one with Pau, but the away goalie spread himself and kept out a point-blank strike to ensure it finished all square.

FULL TIME | @MalagaCF_en 1-1 @RCDEspanyol

(Cop 44 pen; Diop 11)#MCFvESP pic.twitter.com/FP9V7bW8F0

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) April 3, 2016

Streaks extended
The draw means that both teams are now undefeated in four games, a run that has enabled Constantin Galca's side to pull clear of the relegation zone, with this result taking their cushion to eight points. Malaga, meanwhile, continue to look upwards although, with a nine-point deficit, they remain long shots to clinch a European place.