Deportivo La Coruna held on for a hard-earned point at Malaga to extend their unbeaten run at La Rosaleda to 10 years.

Deportivo, who have won 10 matches so far this season in what has been the club's best start to a La Liga campaign for several years, were on the back foot from the 37th minute, when Pablo Alvarez was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

But the Galicians gave as good as they got for much of the second half and managed to keep a revitalised Malaga outfit at bay, despite their numerical disadvantage.

Depor lost at home to Real Madrid in the league last weekend for the first time in 18 years.

But they came here looking to preserve another positive record, having gone unbeaten away to Malaga since the turn of the century.

Malaga came into this match on form, though, having lost just once in the last 11 league matches.

That defeat came at Real Madrid two weeks ago, but the Andalusians secured their best result of the season last weekend, when they won 2-0 away to Atletico Madrid.

The locals started this match brightly, but the first real chance of the game fell to Deportivo.

It came after seven minutes, when Rodolfo Bodipo headed wide from 10 yards out.

Neither of these sides can be described as free-scoring, however, and that lack of penetration in attack was all too evident in a sterile first half.

But Malaga were given a big boost eight minutes before half-time, when Alvarez was booked for diving.

The midfielder, already on a yellow card, was forced to depart and Deportivo would now have an uphill battle to secure anything at all from this match.

And it looked as if Malaga would dominate from now on, especially after Duda crashed a stinging shot against the post seven minutes into the second period.

But Deportivo came close at the other end straight afterwards, when Bodipo almost connected to a Juan Rodriguez cross.

Both teams were largely restricted to long-range efforts after that, and Malaga's numerical advantage was barely noticeable in the latter stages.

The Andalusians were enjoying the greater possession but were unable to find a way through against an organised Deportivo back-line, who were happy to sit back and soak up the locals' pressure.

Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's men began to run out of ideas as time went by and Deportivo held on comfortably in the end.

This was, in a sense, a missed opportunity for the Galicians to get themselves well and truly back in the race for a Champions League spot.

But the nature of the result will please coach Miguel Angel Lotina and the hard-earned point leaves Depor well-placed in sixth spot after 21 games.

Malaga will not be too displeased either, even though this draw - the club's ninth of the league campaign - leaves them just three points clear of the relegation zone.