Espanyol 2 - 1 Málaga

Espanyol battle to victory

Updated: September 23, 2009, 10:08 PM UK

Espanyol bagged their first competitive win at their new Cornella-El Prat stadium thanks to a narrow 2-1 success over Malaga in the latest round of Primera Division action.

The Catalans fought back from behind after Fernando Fernandez had given Malaga the lead with a deflected strike just short of the half-hour mark.

Ben Sahar struck to level the scores after 55 minutes and Ivan Alonso bagged the winner 10 minutes from time to give Mauricio Pochettino's team a second win in four days.

Having secured their last ever win at Montjuic against Malaga at the end of last season, the Catalans set out to seal their first success at Cornella against the same opponents.

Veteran striker Raul Tamudo, who scored all three Espanyol goals on that sunny afternoon back in May, was missing through injury for this one.

Captain Ivan De La Pena was also out and Pochettino decided to leave summer signing Shunsuke Nakamura on the bench following his recent injury.

Despite those absences, Espanyol began with an exciting attacking quadrant formed by Jose Callejon, Luis Garcia, Sahar and Ferran Corominas.

Malaga had the first chance after nine minutes when Xavi Torres drilled a low shot straight at Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni from the edge of the area.

Malaga, like Espanyol, came into this game with just three points, having won only one of their previous three matches.

But while Espanyol had lost two before winning their third against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend, Malaga came into this match on the back of two straight defeats following an impressive opening day victory over Atletico Madrid.

And they almost went behind after 10 minutes when Gustavo Munua produced a fantastic save to keep out Coro's close-range shot when the forward looked certain to score.

Espanyol's fans were still waiting for their team's first goal at the new stadium in a competitive match and were further frustrated when Fernando's deflected strike gave Malaga the lead after 28 minutes.

The striker tried his luck with an angled drive from the edge of the box and saw his effort deflect off Juan Forlin and in, giving Kameni no chance.

The home side were a little unlucky to go behind but were not imposing themselves on the game either and went in a goal down at the break.

But following half-chances for both sides early in the second half, Sahar headed the equaliser from Coro's cross 10 minutes after the restart.

And the Catalans got the winner 10 minutes from time when substitute Alonso scored a fine goal.

There appeared little danger as the Uruguayan was set up by fellow substitute Nakamura on the edge of the box.

But Alonso cleverly beat his marker and lashed an unstoppable left-footed drive into the corner to give Espanyol all three points.

After sitting bottom of the league after two games, Espanyol are now eighth, while Malaga are 16th, just a point clear of the drop zone and with Barcelona up next.