Ignacio Camacho scored twice in the first half as 10-man Malaga beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at the Estadio Balaidos tonight to climb two places in the La Liga table.
Camacho trebled his tally for the season with a brace in the opening 32 minutes, and while Duda was sent off after the break, Celta never threatened a comeback.
In an even start to the contest, each side hit the crossbar in the opening 20 minutes, with Celta midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli rattling the woodwork with a shot on the turn from 20 yards.
Samu soon followed suit at the other end following a pass from Roque Santa Cruz, but Malaga were ahead shortly afterwards as Camacho scored the first of two quickfire goals on 24 minutes.
After Celta goalkeeper Yoel could only parry a shot from Santa Cruz back into the danger zone, Camacho was the quickest to react and pounced on the rebound to net for the first time in 2014.
Duda supplied him with Malaga's second by flighting a free kick into the box for Camacho to head into the bottom corner, but the provider of the goal was later sent off for two bookable offences.
His first yellow card was for dissent, and the midfielder was then given his marching orders on 66 minutes when he scythed down Rafinha, giving the hosts 25 minutes to try to find a way back into the match.
Although they had the majority of the possession, and ended the game having had 67% of the ball, Celta only registered three shots on target as Rafinha, Nolito and Santi Mina all wasted good chances.
Malaga are now 12th in the La Liga table, one point behind Celta.
Joe Fish
