Malaga boosted their hopes of La Liga survival thanks to a narrow win over Espanyol.

Fernando Fernandez gave the Andalusians the lead after 13 minutes, and although Victor Ruiz equalised shortly before half-time, the home side sealed a second consecutive victory thanks to Victor Obinna's winner a quarter of an hour from time.

Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side were reduced to 10 men late on, when Jesus Gamez was sent off for a nasty tackle on Raul Baena.

But Espanyol, having missed several glorious opportunities in the second half, were unable to find a late leveller and remain without a win away from home since the third round of the championship.

All the talk in the Catalan camp this week had been about breaking that negative dynamic on the road.

The club's home form has been a catalyst in the team's rise up the table in recent weeks, but results away from Cornella have been dismal.

Things did not start well here, either, as Malaga dominated the opening exchanges.

The Andalusians, boosted by last weekend's fine 3-0 win at Racing Santander, began the match at a high tempo and created a great chance after just four minutes, when Selim Benachour blasted over the bar after Carlos Kameni had done well to get a foot to Gamez's deflected cross.

Espanyol were looking shaky at the back and their defending was atrocious as Malaga took the lead after 13 minutes.

The Andalusians won a free-kick and Duda's flighted delivery into the box was met by the unmarked Fernando, whose header gave Kameni no chance.

It was a defensive disaster and there were two more Malaga players unmarked as the set-piece was whipped in.

Chances were few and far between in the remainder of the first half, but Ruiz did well to block an Obinna effort as Malaga looked to double their advantage shortly before the interval.

And Ruiz was then the hero at the other end for Espanyol as he equalised just before half-time.

It also came from a set-piece, with Ruiz slotting home at the far post after Daniel Toribio could only flick Javi Marquez's free-kick towards his own goal.

Psychologically boosted by their equaliser and its timing, Espanyol were on the ascendancy after the interval.

Joan Verdu saw a shot deflected wide 10 minutes into the second period and Jose Callejon lobbed an exquisite effort onto the crossbar shortly afterwards.

Nico Pareja then came desperately close to a second goal for Espanyol with a brilliant free-kick as the Barcelona-based side sought a rare away lead, but saw his effort sail agonisingly off target.

It should have come after 74 minutes, but Luis Garcia, all alone in front of goal, fluffed his effort from close range and Malaga somehow survived.

And the Catalans were punished for their profligacy as Malaga retook the lead a minute later.

Duda's corner was met my Weligton, whose mistimed header fell to Manu Torres.

The latter managed to touch the ball on clumsily and Obinna, who was virtually on the goal line, poked home without really knowing too much about it.

It was something of a comedy of errors and very harsh on Espanyol.

But Pochettino's men only had themselves to blame for a host of missed chances.

Gamez was sent off late on and Espanyol pressed against Malaga's 10 men, but there was no way back for the Catalans, who drop to 14th place in the table, where they remain six points clear of the relegation zone.

Malaga, thanks to a third win in four, are now a point better off than Espanyol, in 13th place.