Substitute Nabil Baha climbed off the bench to fire lowly Malaga to a much-needed victory over Villarreal at La Rosaleda.

With the game goalless, Baha was given his chance in the 53rd minute and he responded with both of his side's goals as the Andalusian outfit ended a run of three successive defeats with a deserved triumph.

The result lifted Malaga seven points above the relegation zone and in the process put a big dent in Villarreal's hopes of securing a European berth.

The Yellow Submarine had hoped to salvage what has been a massively disappointing campaign with either a Champions League berth or Europa League place, but this loss left them 10 points off fourth place and six adrift of the top six with 11 games to go.

Both sides would have been desperate for the three points heading into the encounter, but there were few scares for either goalkeeper during a first half devoid of goals or many chances.

That led to the respective coaches each making changes at half-time, with Malaga boss Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz sending on Valmiro Valdo for Fernando Fernandez - who missed the best chance of the first period just before the break - and Villarreal tactician Juan Carlos Garrido swapping Ariel Ibagaza and Nilmar for Ruben Cani and Damian Escudero.

It was the introduction of Baha soon after for Selim Benachour that proved the decisive move of the match, however.

The Morocco international had been on the pitch just over 10 minutes when he put Malaga ahead.

Influential playmaker Sergio Duda, who was back in the Malaga line-up after sitting out last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Almeria through suspension, curled in a corner from the right and Baha sent a glancing header past Diego Lopez at the near post.

That was only Baha's third league goal of the season but it was just the boost Malaga would have been hoping for after successive defeats to Barcelona, Xerez and Almeria had left them just four points above the bottom three.

Garrido, who prior to the match had stressed every point was "vital" as his side chase a European spot, responded to that goal by making his third and final change, sending on striker Giuseppe Rossi for full-back Angel Lopez.

That left Villarreal with an attack-heavy line-up, and it almost paid dividends in the 72nd minute when Nilmar had a decent opening to draw the visitors level.

However, the club's record signing could not take advantage as he was denied by home goalkeeper Gustavo Munua.

Villarreal would not come much closer than that, and it was Malaga who looked the more likely scorers in the closing stages.

Lopez did well to deny Baha in the 83rd minute, but the 28-year-old forward need not have worried as he was celebrating his second goal moments later.

All three of Malaga's substitutes were involved, with Valdo's low cross being cleverly dummied by Victor Obinna to allow the ball to run through to the unmarked Baha in the centre.

Baha was almost left with egg on his face as he mis-kicked with the goal at his mercy, but fortunately for him and the home side his fluffed shot still found its way into the the net as Malaga secured a much-needed win.