La Liga wrap: Malaga end day on top

Malaga claimed top spot with a comeback 3-2 win, after Valencia had earlier risen to the La Liga summit on Saturday.

Valencia returned to winning ways and went provisionally top of the table after a 1-0 home win over Granada.

Unai Emery’s side won their first three league matches this season, before a creditable 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona and a narrow loss to Sevilla to drop their unbeaten streak.

The Costa Blanca club drew at home to Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, but they took all three points courtesy of Sergio Canales’ early strike at the Estadio de Mestalla.

They took the lead just three minutes in when Pablo Piatti’s backheel found Canales, who rocketed a left-foot strike from beyond the area into the bottom right-hand corner to get the locals off to the ideal start.

Jeremy Mathieu then shot wide and Roberto Soldado saw a header saved as Valencia looked to double their advantage, but Dani Benitez forced Valencia shot-stopper Vicente Guaita into a fine stop at the other end for Granada.

Canales’ effort proved sufficient in the finish, sending Valencia top with 13 points from their six games.

Malaga claimed victory in the late kick-off over Getafe, with the hosts at Estadio La Rosaleda only claiming the lead in second-half injury time.

Pedro Leon put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes with a superbly hit left-foot volley from outside the area, only for Dutch veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy to nod home his side’s response nine minutes later.

Nicolas Fedor put Getafe back in front with a goal in the 75th minute despite replays showing the Venezuelan’s header had come off his hand, but the sending off of Algerian international Mehdi Lacen moments later handed Malaga a lifeline.

Italian veteran Enzo Maresca equalised for the home side, before former Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista netted a late winner to take Malaga top of the table on goal difference from Valencia.

Elsewhere, Osasuna were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Mallorca at home, leaving the sides level on seven points.

Real Zaragoza led twice but could not hold on for victory with 10 men, as Villarreal fought back to snare a 2-2 draw at their Camp El Madrigal home.

Hernan Perez scored an 84th-minute equaliser after Italian defender Maurizio Lanzaro was red-carded four minutes earlier.

Racing Santander came from behind to draw 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano, with Adrian’s second-half strike cancelling out Tamudo’s opener for the promoted club.