Good evening! Two of the La Liga sides that will be optimistic of securing a place in Europe next season go head to head in around half an hour as Malaga host Valencia. Let's start with a look at the teams...

MALAGA STARTING XI: Kameni, Weligton, Roberto, Boka, Sanchez, Camacho, Samu, Juanmi, Castillejo, Darder, Guerra

VALENCIA STARTING XI: Alves, Cancelo, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gaya, Parejo, Perez, Rodrigo, Fuego, Gomes, Negredo

MALAGA SUBSTITUTES: Ochoa, Angeleri, Torres, Recio, Alberto, Amrabat, Horta

VALENCIA SUBSTITUTES: Rodriguez, Orban, Barragan, Vezo, Augusto, De Paul, Alcacer

The visitors have lost Bruno Zuculini and Joao Pereira during the transfer window, but new signing Enzo Perez is in the starting lineup this evening. Meanwhile, there's not Vitorino Antunes for Malaga, as he is heading to Dinamo Kiev.

Ahead of this match, Valencia coach Nuno told reporters: "We have reinforced the squad in the positions we considered necessary and brought in two players from the youth team. There have been several departures but it remains a very good Valencia side. We have a lot of confidence in this team and we believe we can continue to fight for our aim."

Malaga come into this match fresh from their exit in the Copa del Rey. Despite struggling for form a little in recent weeks, Malaga have lost just twice at home this season, so will be confident of bouncing back tonight.

Valencia will be hoping to pick up their third league win in a row this evening, following their 3-1 win over fellow Champions League qualification hopefuls Sevilla last weekend. Valencia's away form has been mixed this season, with just three wins from their nine matches.

Here's the Valencia team arriving at the stadium a short time ago:

TEAM - La afición ha arropado al equipo, que ya se encuentra en La Rosaleda para disputar el encuentro #málagaVCF pic.twitter.com/HILoS92RSt

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) February 2, 2015

PREDICTION! With kickoff just a few minutes away, it's time for a quick prediction. Malaga have been a formidable force at home this season, but Valencia have looked unbeatable in the league recently, so I'm going for a 2-1 away win.

The players are out ready for kickoff!

KICKOFF! Valencia get the match underway.

Valencia are on the attack early on as Fuego makes makes a run down the left before crossing in towards Negredo, but the on-loan Manchester City man's first touch isn't good enough.

Malaga have made an attacking start too as Juanmi spots a gap in the middle and tried to burst through, but he loses out to Mustafi on the edge of the box.

Mustafi and Otamendi play the ball out from the back, but, Weligton does enough to stop the latter getting the cross in from the edge of the box, forcing it behind for a goal kick. Rodrigo tries to make his way back in for the visitors moments later, but Kameni comes off his line to claim it.

CHANCE! Valencia are really putting the hosts under pressure at the back in the early stages as Gomes crosses it in for Fuego, but the winger's finish is just wide of the left upright. Los Che quickly win it back and Parejo tries to get the ball away, but he's caught in two minds whether to cross or shoot, and it flies well high.

Malaga try to catch Valencia out with a quick counter-attack, and Guerra manages to get behind Otamendi as he looked for the ball forward from Camacho, but Alves was ready to take it.

The hosts are really starting to stretch the Valencia defenders now after surviving a strong spell from the visitors in the early minutes of this match. Guerra is the obvious target man for the hosts, but Juanmi can't quite play it through to the lively looking striker.

Diego Alves has to be alert as Juanmi tries to cross it in for Guerra yet again, but the keeper spots the delivery and decisively takes it.

CHANCE! Valencia are back on the offensive, with Rodrigo picking it up on the edge of the box before creating some space himself to fire towards the Malaga goal, but it flashed just wide of the post.

Castillejo is immediately on the attack down the other end, but he loses out to a crunching tackle from Fuego on the edge of the box, but the referee believes it's a fair one.

Malaga give away a free kick in a promising position as Roberto brings down Rodrigo, but the visitors can't make the most of it. The get another moments later though a Parejo is cut down, but the curling delivery from Cancelo is beyond his teammates, and it goes behind for a goal kick.

Malaga are on the counter-attack again, and they win a free kick themselves in a dangerous position as Juanmi is tripped to the left of the penalty area. The midfielder pulls is back to Boke on the edge of the box, but it's comfortably claimed by Alves.

Samuel Castillejo scores his first goal for Malaga to give the home side the lead with 25 minutes gone. Samuel crosses it in perfectly from just outside the box, leaving Castillejo to head it into the top of the goal from neat the penalty spot.

Valencia are immediately pressing for an equaliser as Otamendi tries to fins some space in the box, but the high ball forward from Rodrigo is easily claimed by Kameni.

CHANCE! Rodrigo unleashes a powerful, low effort from 20 yards out, hitting it first time, but it's comfortably saved.

CHANCE! Just after saving a chance down the other end, Malaga almost double their lead as Samu lofts it in for Guerra, but Alves somehow gets his fingertips to it to knock it clear. I'm not sure how much the Valencia keeper knew about that one!

Malaga try to patiently find a way through as Sanchez takes a free kick short to Darder in midfield, but he can't find a gap to get up Camacho.

CHANCE! Samu is causing all kinds of problems for the Valencia defenders with his crosses from the right. This time he finds Juanmi, but Alves pulls off another stunning stop to keep the deficit to one.

CHANCE! Malaga are in complete control at the moment, and come close again as Samu continues to exploit the Valencia back four with another well-timed cross from the right, but Juanmi can't quite reach it.

BOOKING! Nicolas Otamendi is the first player to be shown the yellow card this evening as he elbows Javi Guerra in the back as the two battle to win a high ball forward.

Samu gives away a free kick as he tangles with Fuego in midfield. Rodrigo blasts it forward, and Boka has to turn it behind for a corner. Jose Gaya rises highest in the box to try to level the scores for Valencia, but his finish is just wide.

CHANCE! Malaga win a free kick when Castillejo takes a tumble just outside his own box. Kameni takes it and boots it deep down field for Guerra to flick it into the path of Juanmi, but his low effort is a fraction wide.

CHANCE! Samu floats another high ball forward, and it eventually drops to Juanmi, but Fuego does enough to divert it behind for a corner, which is cleared by Otamendi.

After weathering an early Valencia storm, Malaga head into half time well on top thanks to Samuel Castillejo's goal midway through the opening period, and continued pressure from Samu and Juanmi. If anything, the home side will be disappointed that their lead is only one goal, as they created several excellent chances to double their advantage.

Let's take a look at some of the statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Valencia actually had more time on the ball with 56%, but Malaga had six shots, twice as many as their opponents. Three of the home side's efforts were on target, while Carlos Kameni has had to make just one save so far.

Valencia have some fire power on the bench should they need to send on some fresh legs to held them get a goal back. Paco Alcacer has nine goals in 23 appearances in all competition for Valencia this season, although he hasn't scored since before Christmas.

The players are making their way back out for the second half.

KICKOFF! Malaga get the action back underway.

Juanmi puts Valencia under pressure straight away with a run in from the right, but Alves is quickly off his line to get it clear, before it's turned behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Samu is involved again as he plays the ball through for Darder, but is low effort is straight into the arms of the keeper.

BOOKING! Daniel Parejo joins Otamendi in the book for pulling back goalscorer Samuel Castillejo by his shoulder.

Valencia just haven't shown any signs of a comeback since the restart, and they're under pressure at the back again as Cancelo concedes a free kick near the corner flag, allowing Boka to whip it in for the hosts, but it comes to nothing.

Malaga have yet another free kick, this time around 30 yards out as Fuego brings down Samu, but his effort curls just wide at the last minute.

CHANCE! Valencia have their best chance of the second half, if not of the match as Gaya pulls it back for Negredo at the neat post. The striker just has to head it in, but he gets a bad first touch and nods it wide.

SUB! Valencia make the first change of the night, and it's no surprise to see Paco Alcacer coming on. He takes the place of Daniel Parejo.

BOOKING! Joao Cancelo is the third Valencia player to be booked as he catches Castillejo with a flailing arm.

Malaga have yet another free kick as Mustafi charges into Junmi, but he makes amends by making sure Boka doesn't get on the end of the resulting free kick. The fouls are certainly starting to stack up for Valencia now.

Negredo tries to force his way through the middle as he looks to set up strike partner Paco Alcacer, but he loses out to Camacho, who quickly gets the hosts back down the other end.

SUB! Malaga make their first change, replacing Javi Guerra with Nordin Amrabat up front, presumably in a bid to try to increase their lead.

BOOKING! Ignacio Camacho is the first home player to see the yellow as he barges into Gaya in midfield.

BOOKING! Nordin Amrabat is in the book just a few minutes after coming off the bench as he catches Javi Fuego late.

It's turned rather physical in the last few minutes as Fuego charges into Juanmi, givig the hosts a free kick on the sideline 30 yards out. He escapes the booking though, much to the dismay of the home fans.

CHANCE! Negredo has the ball just inside the box, but he's surrounded by Malaga players, and his effort is blocked. However, it's only cleared as far as Andre Gomes, who smashes it first time from 20 yards out, but it's comfortably saved by Kameni.

SUB! It's a second change for Valencia as Andre Gomes, who had been pretty much anonymous until his shot a few moments ago, makes way for Rodrigo de Paul.

Having already been booked Joao Cancelo makes a clumsy challenge on Camacho to earn himself a second yellow, so he's off. That leaves Valencia a man short heading into the final 15 minutes.

Malaga try to make their man advantage count straight away as they force a corner, but it's easily dealt with by the Valencia defence.

SUB! It's a standing ovation for the goalscorer as Castillejo heads off early, with Recio replacing him.

BOOKING! Valencia aren't sitting back as they try to force a late equaliser. They have a chance as Rodrigo de Paul is tripped by Weligton on the edge of the box to give the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position, while also picking up the booking.

CHANCE! Negredo steps up to take the free kick, but he gets it all wrong, slicing it well clear of the the wall, but it keep on rising and ends up in the stands.

BOOKING! Carlos Kameni is the latest player to incur the wrath of the referee, as he take a little too long with the goal kick.

SUB! Valencia make their final chance as Orban comes on for Fuego for the final 10 minutes.

Malaga don't want to rely on their one-goal advantage, they're pushing for a second as Samu tries to cross the ball in from near the corner flag, but Otamendi does enough to get it clear. Boka tries to get it back in with the throw in, but he hasn't got the teammates with him in support.

OFF THE POST! Amrabat unleashes a curling effort that doesn't look that threatening, but the swerve on the ball catches the keeper out, and it ends up coming off the inside of the left upright. That was a lucky escape for Alves.

Samu and Gaya clash with Orban in midair, with the Velencia defender crumpling to the ground, while Samu appears to have a shoulder injury. Both players are getting attention from the physio.

SUB! Malaga have one sub left, so they use it to take off Samu, who has been absolutely sensational this evening. Ricardo Horta comes on for a late cameo.

Malaga are still pressing, but Camacho can't get the ball beyond Orban, while Juanmi's efforts to keep the move alive end in a throw in for the visitors.

CHANCE! Valencia have a promising free kick, but Negredo heads Rodrigo's delivery well high, although there was also a flag up so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Rodrigo de Paul manages to force a corner in the final moments of normal time, but Kameni comes off his line to punch it clear as the match heads into four minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCES! Valencia are finishing strongly as Negredo tries to flick the ball on for Alcacer. Rosales should deal with it, but there's a mix-up between him and the keeper and he gives away a corner. However, Kameni makes no mistake this time, jumping to take it. Negredo manages to head it back in following the clearance, but Alcacer's finish is a fraction wide.

CHANCE! Negredo is in again, and this time he tries to backheel it to Rodrigo, but the midfielder is just offside, so the chance goes begging.

BOOKING! Enzo Perez picks up a late booking for bringing down Horta, and that should be enough for the hosts to see out the win.

So Samuel Castillejo's first-half goal is enough to give Malaga the win, which leaves them seventh in the table, while Valencia miss the chance to climb into the top four.

That's all from this match, but join us again on Wednesday for more action from La Liga as Real Madrid host Sevilla. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye!