Valencia missed the chance to return to the top four in La Liga after losing 1-0 at Malaga on Monday evening.

It was the visitors that had the best two chances inside the opening 20 minutes, but Dani Parejo fired high and wide from close range, before Rodrigo Moreno flashed a low effort wide of the post.

Malaga made the breakthrough after 25 minutes, however, when Samuel Castillejo headed a cross from Samuel Garcia into the top corner.

The chances continued to arrive in the latter stages of the half, but Juanmi twice missed the target for Malaga, before Parejo again fired wide to leave the home side with a one-goal lead at the break.

Valencia had the first real chance of the second period after 56 minutes, but Alvaro Negredo could not convert a dangerous cross from Jose Gaya.

Andre Gomes then fired wide for the visitors, before Nordin Amrabat placed a low effort wide down the other end. Valencia's task was made harder after 74 minutes when Joao Cancelo was given his marching orders for a poor challenge on Ignacio Camacho.

Malaga had the chance to put the game beyond Valencia five minutes from time, but Amrabat's curling effort hit the inside of the post.

It mattered little in terms of the points, however, with the hosts repelling late pressure to move into seventh spot in the table. Valencia, meanwhile, remain fifth.