Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved to be the difference-maker as Real Madrid edged a close contest with battling Malaga thanks to a solitary strike from their leading scorer.
The Portuguese star struck midway through the opening period before Los Blancos were forced into a solid defensive effort as Malaga, attempting to pull further away from the relegation zone, launched a commendable effort for a leveller.
However, the victory came at a high price with Karim Benzema limping out of the action with a thigh injury, making him a major doubt for next week’s Clasico meeting with Barcelona.
It was an open and entertaining game from the opening whistle, with Madrid harshly denied an early penalty when Gareth Bale appeared to be fouled by Marcos Angeleri as he prepared to shoot.
The hosts were also showing admirable attacking intent, with left-back Vitorino Antunes firing powerfully but too high from long-range and Roque Santa Cruz heading over the bar from Nordin Amrabat’s cross as chances came at both ends.
Ronaldo couldn’t make the most of one early opportunity, shooting straight at Willy Caballero, but he made the most of his next chance, receiving a deep cross from Bale and stepping inside to fire a low right-footed shot past Caballero from the edge of the penalty box.
Gaining confidence from their opener, Madrid immediately threatened to double their advantage as Bale twice picked out Ronaldo, who saw his first effort well saved by Caballero’s outstretched foot and then volleyed his next chance narrowly wide.
Benzema then limped out of the game and the visitors lost their way as Malaga went in search of an equaliser.
Amrabat mis-hit a 15-yard effort into the arms of Diego Lopez before captain Duda had a long-range effort deflected wide, and the hosts continued to finish the half strongly, with the outstanding Amrabat delivering a dangerous cross into the path of Samu whose header was diverted wide by Pepe.
Malaga continued to press in the early stages of the second period, and Samu’s smart snapshot forced Lopez into a routine save at his near post, while Amrabat unleashed a ferocious strike from 30 yards but it flew straight at Lopez.
At the other end, substitute Di Maria created a glorious chance for a second goal with a superb winding run and a precise pass into the path of Isco, who squandered the opportunity to score against his former club by wastefully shooting too high.
It remained a tight and well contested encounter with neither team able to dominate, and Malaga wasted their best chance to equalise after a long-throw was only partially cleared into the path of Sergio Sanchez on the edge of the box, but the defender lacked composure with his shot and volleyed badly wide.
Although Ronaldo forced three saves from Caballero with breakaway efforts, Malaga were on the front foot in the final stages, forcing the league leaders into a determined rearguard effort with a series of crosses and balls into the box.
But Malaga’s last chance to rescue a point disappeared when the disappointing Santa Cruz fired well wide from the edge of the box.
