Real Madrid will end 2012 16 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Malaga on Saturday.

Madrid enjoyed the better of the chances in the opening period, but it remained 0-0 at the interval with both teams defending well.

It was Malaga who opened the scoring in the early stages of the second period, however, when Isco fired a cool effort into the bottom corner.

Madrid were level after 67 minutes, however, when Sergio Sanchez turned into his own net following a tussle with Karim Benzema.

But Malaga secured all the points when Roque Santa Cruz twice in the second half, despite Benzema adding a consolation for Madrid late on.

Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action between the two La Liga rivals.

Match statistics:

Malaga:
Shots 11
On target 6
Possession 45%
Corners 6
Fouls 9

Real Madrid:
Shots 11
On target 5
Possession 55%
Corners 7
Fouls 12

Was the result fair?

On the balance of play, you would have to say yes. Madrid were the better side for large periods of the first half, but never really kicked on in the second period. Malaga took the lead during their best spell in the match and took advantage of the uncertainly in the Madrid defence. A draw may well have reflected the statistics, but Malaga were worth the win looking at the match as a whole.

Malaga's performance

8/10. Having learned that they would not be able to compete in the Champions League next season, it would have been easy for them to bury their heads in the sand. That was simply not the case this evening. Everything they did had a purpose and they exploited the Madrid weaknesses. Joaquin and Martin Demichelis were particularly impressive for the Spanish outfit.

Real Madrid's performance

5/10. Madrid's troubles continue. Talk of a crisis is slightly premature, but there is no doubt that they have problems. The decision to drop Iker Casillas was a strange one and it will be called into a question having lost the match. Cristiano Ronaldo was as poor as he has been all season, meanwhile, and he is another player clearly not happy with life in the Spanish capital.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Isco: The young Spaniard scored the opening goal of the match with a fine solo effort. However, it was his willingness to take hold of possession under pressure that impressed the most. It was just a fine all-round display for a midfielder who is going all the way to the top.

Biggest gaffe of the match

Ronaldo had a wonderful opportunity to put Madrid ahead inside the opening 30 minutes of the match. However, he somehow blazed over from five yards with the goal gaping. It was an incredible miss from the Portuguese skipper.

Referee performance

Alejandro Hernandez did well to not issue a single yellow card in the opening stages as the tackles continued to fly in. The Spaniard was prepared to let the play flow in the correct areas. However, he was quick to intervene where he deemed necessary.

What next?

Malaga: Malaga will attempt to continue their winning run when they travel to Deportivo La Coruna on January 5. They then play the second leg of their Copa del Rey clash against Eibar on January 8.

Real Madrid: Jose Mourinho's side return to league action at home to Real Sociedad on January 6. They will then attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit when they face Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey on January 9.