Pressure is mounting on Malaga coach Javi Gracia after his side lost 1-0 at home to Villarreal to remain in the relegation zone.
Fernando Tissone's own goal in the second half proved the difference at La Rosaleda and the hosts were booed off the pitch following a fifth consecutive game without scoring.
Villarreal arrived in Malaga in confident mood after beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1 on the weekend and had the better of the first half, but saw shots from Matias Nahuel and Leo Baptistao saved by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.
Neither side could get a grip on the game in the opening stages of the second half and it took a defensive error to separate the two teams. Denis Suarez crossed into the box and Tissone stuck a leg out to clear the danger but instead sent the ball beyond Kameni and into his own net.
Malaga nearly hit back a few moments later when Roberto Rosales went for goal from outside the area, but Villarreal goalkeeper Alphonse Areola tipped his shot away for a corner.
It was the last nervy moment for Villarreal, who recorded a fourth straight win to move up to third place in the table, while Malaga languish in 19th, still unable to score a goal this season.
ends