Filipe Luis struck a terrific goal nine minutes from time to give Deportivo La Coruna a hard-fought win over Malaga.

Filipe, unsettled by attention from Barcelona in the summer, looked once again committed to the Depor cause as he rifled home a thunderous drive from 25 yards to give Deportivo victory in their first match at Riazor this term.

Following a cagey start, the home side threatened to take the lead after 16 minutes, when Pablo Alvarez connected with Andres Guardado's cross, but Malaga goalkeeper Gustavo Munua made a fine save to deny the Deportivo forward.

But Munua, signed from Deportivo in the summer, was hardly troubled again in an evenly-disputed first half which saw few chances of note for either side.

Filipe saw a shot blocked and Juan Carlos Valeron was denied by a last-ditch Weligton tackle as Deportivo tried to take the initiative.

But Malaga, buoyed by their fantastic 3-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid on the opening weekend, were once again showing they can be a match for just about anyone.

The Andalusians looked short of ideas going forward, though, and seemed content to just sit back and soak up the local pressure.

And Deportivo were hardly making the most of their possession anyway.

Guardado's angled shot sailed well wide just short of the hour-mark and Juan Rodriguez blasted a wild effort high over the bar moments later.

Riki then met Guardado's cross, but he also failed to hit the target.

The Galicians were on top now, but their finishing was still poor.

Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina changed three of his front four in the final half an hour in an attempt to win the game.

Mista, Adrian Lopez and Lassad Nouioui all came on for Riki, Valeron and Alvarez, but the inspiration came from further back as Filipe smashed a stunning long-range effort past Munua to finally open the scoring after 81 minutes.

That should have been that, but Malaga came storming back and substitute Victor Obinna should have equalised with four minutes left.

However, the Nigerian totally mishit his effort from close-range and saw the ball fly over the bar.

He looked to have made amends three minutes later when he set up Nabil Baha with a fantastic cross, but the French-Moroccan striker shot inexplicably wide with an open goal at his mercy.

It was a win that was just about deserved for Deportivo in the end, but Malaga will feel they let the chance of a point slip away following those late misses.

After two rounds of the championship, both of these sides now have three points.