Málaga CF passed up the opportunity to leapfrog Valencia CF into third place in the Liga as relegation-threatened Villarreal CF came from a goal down to earn a last-gasp 2-1 home win.

Following Levante UD's defeat to Real Sporting de Gijón on Wednesday, Málaga had the opportunity to put five points between themselves and the fifth-placed side. The hosts appeared in control when former Villarreal forward Santi Cazorla put Málaga ahead with a 65th-minute drilled effort from the edge of the penalty area.

However, in a frenetic final few minutes, Málaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni conceded an 82nd-minute penalty and was subsequently sent off for bringing down Hernán Peréz. Marcos Senna duly converted the spot kick, before substitute Peréz fired in an added-time volley to steal all three points for the hosts.

The result leaves Málaga two points behind Valencia and moves Villarreal seven points clear of the relegation zone, as an Álvaro Negredo double helped Sevilla FC seal a 3-0 win against 18th-placed Real Zaragoza. Meanwhile, bottom side Real Racing Club also succumbed 3-0 against RCD Mallorca.