Malaga stay in seventh place in the Spanish
Liga as a result of Saturday's pulsating late 3-2 defeat away to in-form
Athletic Bilbao, dpa reported.
Victory in San Mames would have taken Malaga up to fourth and they were twice
in the lead, only to collapse in the final minutes.
Bilbao were given a rowdy reception in San Mames because of Wednesday's cup
win away to Sporting Gijon. They face Sevilla in the quarter-finals next week.
Former Spain striker Albert Luque gave Malaga the lead after just four minutes,
only for Fran Yeste to level for the hosts with his trusty left foot just
before half-time.
Lolo restored Malaga's lead in the 64th minute, but Bilbao brushed aside their
fatigue to lay siege to the visitors' goal. Spain forward Fernando Llorente
made it 2-2 in the 72nd minute, the promising Markel Susaeta grabbed the winner
just three minutes from time.
"Things are going well for us right now," said Llorente.
"It's that kind of period," he added, "when you just cannot wait
for the next game to come around."
The late win takes Bilbao - the only team in a major European league to have no
foreign players - up to ninth, three points behind Malaga.
Later on Saturday, second-placed Real Madrid are away to lowly Numancia.
Real, who are 12 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona, will be looking for
their sixth straight win.
Earlier on Saturday, Real presented to the media new signing Julien Faubert,
who has come on a five-month loan from West Ham United.
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