Malaga have moved into sixth place in the La Liga table with a 2-1 win against Espanyol at the Estadio La Rosaleda.
The home side took the lead on five minutes when Venezuelan striker Jose Rondón tapped in Nacho Monreal's cross.
The visitors equalised against the run of play just before the break when Alvaro flicked a header into the Malaga net from Vladimir Weiss's cross.
Alvaro could have given his side an unlikely lead on 56 minutes, but he poked his shot narrowly wide from six yards out.
Malaga's winning goal came in controversial circumstances when Koffi Romaric was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area on 70 minutes. However, replays showed that the ball struck the midfielder on the face.
The Ivorian had to then be taken off with a black eye due to the force of the shot, but the penalty stood and substitute Antonio Apono swept the ball home from the spot to earn his side the win.
Jack Prescott
