La Liga: Deportivo La Coruna pick up hard-earned point at Malaga

Deportivo La Coruna boosted their survival hopes on Sunday with a creditable 1-1 draw at Europa League hopefuls Malaga.

Oriel Riera headed in on the hour mark to cancel out Nodin Amrabat's goal at the start of the second half in an evenly matched game, in which both sides hit the woodwork.

The draw saw Depor move on to 29 points, albeit still searching for a first win in 11 matches, while Malaga's winless run stretched to seven matches, with their lead over Athletic Bilbao now just one point as they aim to hold on to seventh spot and the final European berth.

Javi Gracia's side almost got off to the ideal start in the game, however, when Juanmi hit the post inside 10 minutes, turning his marker in the area and firing at Fabricio's goal frame.

But Deportivo hit back, with Lucas Perez forcing a smart save from Carlos Kameni, and Riera then headed wide after good work by Luisinho down the left.

Malaga took the lead right at the start of the second half when Amrabat latched onto a through ball and took on a couple of defenders before striking the ball low and hard past Fabricio and in off the inside of the post.

Depor kept their heads up, however, and looked for an immediate response.

Kameni came out to punch a cross before Riera could get there, but a few minutes later the former Wigan striker got the better of the Cameroon goalkeeper.

The excellent Perez swung a free-kick in from the right and Riera leaped above Sergio Sanchez to head the ball into the bottom corner.

Juanmi had a goal correctly ruled offside and then Ricardo Horta was denied by Fabricio from the edge of the area as Malaga looked to restore their lead.

But it was Perez who came closest to winning the game, the Deportivo winger going for goal from a free-kick on the edge of the area and seeing his effort strike the post.