Spanish Primera Division report: Rayo Vallecano v Malaga

Rayo Vallecano picked up a fourth straight Primera Division home win as Gael Kakuta's first-half header proved enough to beat Malaga, who finished the game with 10 men.

The Chelsea loanee struck the only goal of the game midway through the first half and Paco Jemez's side hung on for the 1-0 win without too much trouble, and they were given a further boost when Marcos Angeleri was shown a second yellow card in the second half.

The win sees Rayo take another stride towards securing survival in the top flight for a fourth consecutive year, as they move on to 35 points, nine fewer than Malaga, who stay in seventh place.

The visitors went into the match on the back of a convincing 2-0 win over Cordoba and made the stronger start here and created the first real chance of the game.

In-form forward Juanmi dribbled into the box and released Samu Castillejo but Rayo goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez came out to narrow the angle and was able to save the youngster's effort.

The hosts then sprung into life. First Tito cut inside from the left wing and his shot deflected off team-mate Raul Baena and just wide of the far post.

Although they had failed to make the most of this opportunity, Rayo sensed that Malaga were vulnerable down that left wing and it was from there that they broke the deadlock.

Roberto Trashorras spread the play to Bueno out on the left. The 26-year-old became Rayo's all-time top scorer in the top flight last week but on this occasion he was the provider.

He twisted his way past a Malaga defender and into the area before chipping the ball to the far post for Kakuta to dive and head past Carlos Kameni.

However, Rayo almost relinquished their advantage immediately. Ricardo Horta marauded into the box from the right and from the byline crossed to Juanmi at the far post.

The forward headed the ball back for Castillejo to nod home, but the 20-year-old could get hardly any power on his header and Alvarez caught the ball easily.

Bueno was denied a goal of his own right at the start of the second half by Kameni, who tipped his 20-yard shot around the post.

It was one of few chances after the break for either side, and Malaga's hopes of finding an equaliser sank further when Angeleri earned a second booking for elbowing Bueno with a quarter of an hour remaining.