Almeria remain just a point above the relegation zone in the La Liga table after a 2-1 defeat at home to Malaga this evening.

The home side started brightly and perhaps should have been ahead when a chance fell to Thomas Partey inside the first three minutes, but the striker could only slice his chance wide of the post.

Wellington Silva was next to go close for Almeria but he could only poke the ball wide of the target on six minutes.

Almeria were made to pay for their early profligacy when Nordin Amrabat's shot was inadvertently directed into the net by Jose Casado on 23 minutes.

The hosts were level just after the half-hour mark, however, when Thomas headed in Casado's delivery after poor goalkeeping from Carlos Kameni.

Kameni atoned for his error in the second period when he made a point-blank save to deny Javier Espinosa after good work from Silva in the build-up.

Amrabat then set up Javi Guerra, who converted a low cross to give the Andalusians the lead.

Guerra should have claimed his second when he fired over with six minutes of normal time remaining.

The victory moves Malaga up to seventh in Spain's top division.