Too little, too late

However, this seemed to galvanise the home side. After holding off early pressure from the energised visitors, Malaga won a corner on the counterattack. From it, the ball broke to defender Luis Hernández on the edge of the box, who flicked it over the backline to Adrián who brought it down on his chest before wrongfooting Gerónimo Rulli.

The go-ahead goal brought a bizarrely mixed reaction from the crowd who on the one hand wanted to back their team but at the same time wanted to show the club that the teams underachievement was not good enough.

The drama continued in the 23rd minute when a misplaced pass from Manuel Iturra failed to find Ignasi Miquel and instead had to be swept up by the keeper. From the resultant indirect freekick, Sergio Canales lifted the ball over the wall, but also the cross bar.

Canales continued to prove a threat to the Malaga defence with his direct running, with both Maxime Lestienne and Iturra picking up yellow cards for reckless fouls on the midfielder.

But when Sociedads Héctor Moreno conceded a corner in the 33rd minute, Malaga doubled their led. Although the initial set piece was wasted, the ball fell to Chory Castro who delivered a well-timed cross right into the path of Youssef En-Nesyri, who fired the ball past Rulli.

Winger Keko, who has been out of the first team picture for the past few months, replaced Chory at the break and made an immediate impact, leading the Malaga charge down the left wing in the 49th minute. He found Maxime Lestienne in the inside-left position but the Belgians left-footed shot was clawed out of the top corner by Rulli at his near post.

The visitors, who made three changes early in the second half, tried to force their way back into the game. David Zurutuza almost clawed one goal back after he turned neatly in the box, before zipping his shot wide from a tight angle.

Despite their possession, though, Imanol Alguacils side struggled to create enough chances to trouble the hosts. Former Malaga defender Diego Llorente came closest; his header from a freekick had Roberto scrambling but drifted just wide.

With stoppage time approaching, Malaga almost put the cherry on top of the cake when Keko pushed down the right wing and delivered an excellent cross in to an unmarked En-Nesyri, whose header sailed harmlessly across goal.

At full time, the victory still didnt placate the fans who continued to voice their displeasure at the lack of commitment they perceive in the players who only turned up once the pressure was off. However, after this performance, there was certainly a feeling of what could have been.