Saturday's final La Liga clash pitted Almeria against Malaga at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.
The two relegation-threatened sides remained level at the interval following a fairly low-key first 45 minutes.
Malaga had the better of the second period, but could not make the breakthrough as the score finished goalless.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Our final live La Liga commentary of the evening comes from the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos and it is a big one as Almeria welcome Malaga. The home side have won two of their last five in the league, including a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid last time out in this stadium, but they remain in 16th spot in the table, just three points off the bottom three.
Malaga, meanwhile, have problems of their own. They enter the match off the back of successive defeats to Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad, with just one win in their last five leaving them in 17th position and with one point fewer than their opponents this evening. It is a true six-pointer as the season enters its latter stages.
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, both have won two of the last five matches, with the further fixture ending in a draw. Malaga have won each of the last two matches between the pair on their own patch, but drew at Almeria in October 2010, seven months after losing in this stadium in the 2009/10 season.
TEAMS:
ALMERIA: Esteban; Rafita, Trujillo, Torsiglieri, Dubarbier; Suso, Verza, Azeez, Vidal; Soriano; Zongo
MALAGA: Caballero; Gamez, Sanchez, Angeleri, Antunes; Samuel, Camacho, Tissone, Amrabat; Duda; Santa Cruz
So there we have it. No Rodri or Oscar Diaz in the Almeria XI this evening, with Jonathan Zongo leading their line. Malaga boss Schuster, meanwhile, recalls leading scorer Roque Santa Cruz and skipper Duda, but Iakovenko drops to the bench. Right, the away side get the first period underway at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.
Not a full house inside the stadium this evening - far from it in fact - but there is a strong atmosphere. It is difficult to overplay the importance of this particular match. Almeria have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes with Verza and Soriano both seeing plenty of the ball.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this type of match. Malaga threaten from a corner following strong work from Santa Cruz, but Duda's delivery is headed wide by Santa Cruz. End-to-end opening four minutes.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Malaga have the ball in the back of the net as Sanchez converts a free kick from Duda, but the offside flag had been raised. It was extremely close, but just about the correct decision from the linesman.
End-to-end football in the last couple of moments with both sides forcing the issue in the final third. Almeria threaten as Suso finds Zongo with a low pass, but Antunes is across to clear. Down the other end, Samuel delivers a cross into the arms of Esteban. Still goalless with seven minutes on the clock.
A teasing cross from Duda threatens the home side, but the midfielder's effort smashes into the side netting. It must be said that the home supporters are creating a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this evening. Those in attendance certainly realise the importance of this particular match.
Stop-start period of the match in the last few moments due to a number of late challenges, with the referee forced to interrupt play. Not too much to report in terms of attacking pressure, however, with both sides guilty of losing possession too readily in the final third. Goalless after 12 minutes.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for the home side to threaten from a free kick as Zongo is felled by Tissone outside the box. The resulting set piece is taken by Suso and met by Trujillo, but Caballero is on hand to make a wonderful save at the vital moment.
Not too much for the away supporters to get excited about in the last couple of moments with Almeria in control of the possession in forward areas. Malaga gain a free kick just inside the Almeria half, but Duda's delivery is cleared by Trujillo, who has been heavily involved at both ends in the opening 16 minutes.
Half-chance for Malaga as Tissone meets a loose ball on the edge of the box, but his effort is deflected into the arms of the Almeria stopper. It must be said that the pitch is in wonderful condition this evening, which is contributing to a free-flowing La Liga contest.
It's bright work from Malaga as Duda drives down the left before finding Amrabat, but his cross is deflected into the side netting. The resulting corner causes a problem inside the Almeria box, but Soriano manages to clear under pressure from Santa Cruz, who is Malaga's leading scorer in the league this season with four.
Solid spell for Malaga in the last few moments with the away side in charge of the possession in the final third. Duda continues to threaten with crosses into the box, but Almeria have been solid in defensive areas in the opening 23 minutes. Still goalless in this La Liga contest.
Just a few signs of frustration from the home supporters in the last couple of moments as another attack breaks down in the final third. The end-to-end period continues as Duda delivers once more towards the far post, but Esteban is out to collect the danger.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of moments as both sides continue to lose possession in the final third. Neither has been allowed to put together any sort of tempo due to the stop-start nature of the contest. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Malaga as Duda delivers a terrific cross into the Almeria box, but somehow Sergio Sanchez cannot make contact. The away side have been in control of this contest for the last 10 minutes or so.
Malaga continue to threaten as Camacho finds some space just inside the box before striking towards goal, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar. Almeria attempt to break down the other end with Zongo, but the pacey forward is left isolated.
Not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment as the first period enters its latter stages. Malaga have been on top, but clear chances have been at a premium. Just a reminder that Almeria currently sit in 16th, while Malaga are one spot and one point below.
Better from Almeria in the last couple of moments as Zongo twice delivers dangerous crosses into the Malaga box, but Gamez and Sanchez take it in turns to clear the danger. Duda remains the main threat for Malaga with his delivery from wide areas, but there have been no takers. The card count continues to rise, meanwhile, as Malaga centre-back Sanchez enters the book.
The untidiness continues as Duda is penalised for a late challenge on Suso, who rolls over three or four times. The free kick is delivered by Verza, but once more the danger is cleared. Moments later, Verza enters the book for a poor challenge on Samuel in the middle of the park.
Real sense of ill-feeling in this match as both sets of players clash once more following a late challenge from Gamez on Vidal. However, the referee has remained calm and not responded to calls from the home supporters. Still goalless with little under five minutes of the first period remaining.
Malaga continue to look the more dangerous in the final third as Camacho delivers a dangerous cross towards Santa Cruz, but Esteban's handling remains strong. Amrabat threatens with a mazy run moments later, but Rafita is across to clear.
CHANCE! Almeria's best chance of the half comes to Vidal as the Spaniard finds some space outside the box, but his effort is pushed wide by Caballero. Better from the hosts as the first period draws to a close.
HALF TIME: Almeria 0-0 Malaga
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to an end with the two sides level at 0-0. Clear chances have been few and far between, but Malaga have had the better moments in the final third. It is so delicately poised ahead of the second period.
STATISTICS: Malaga have had more of the possession with 55%, while they have had five attempts to Almeria's three. However, the away side are yet to hit the target. It has been a feisty half in terms of challenges, meanwhile, with the referee issuing five bookings.
BENCH WATCH: The home side have a number of attacking options on their bench this evening in the shape of Oscar Diaz, Rodri and Helder Barbosa. Meanwhile, Malaga have the likes of El Hamdaoui, Iakovenko, Perez and Juanmi in reserve this evening.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. As it stands, Almeria would remain 16th and Malaga would remain 17th. However, you just get the feeling that there is a goal or two in this match. Right, the home side get the second 45 minutes of football underway.
No changes for either side at the interval, which is not much of a surprise at this stage of proceedings. However, I suspect that both managers will consider alterations if the score remains level for the next 20 minutes or so. Bright start to the half from Malaga as Duda delivers into the Almeria box, but Esteban collects before releasing Rafita.
It's bright work from Azeez as the Nigerian finds some space outside the Malaga box before releasing Zongo. The forward shows good strength about Angeleri, but slips at the final moment. Moments later, Zongo wins a corner after finding some space behind the Malaga defence.
The end-to-end period of the match continues and indeed the ill-feeling as the challenges continue to arrive. Gamez is perhaps lucky to remain on the field as the Malaga right-back, who has already been booked, brings down Vidal, but the referee takes no further action. Still goalless in Almeria.
Half-chance for Malaga as Amrabat finds some space outside the Almeria box before striking towards the bottom corner, but Esteban is on hand to make the save. The away side threaten once more via a Duda cross, but Santa Cruz cannot make proper contact under pressure from Dubarbier. Still goalless with 55 minutes on the clock in this La Liga contest.
Malaga continue to enjoy their best spell of the match with Antunes and Gamez both involved in the final third. However, they are finding it difficult to really worry Almeria in the final third. Almeria look to their bench for the first time this evening moments later as Portuguese attacker Helder Barbosa enters the field in place of Suso.
Zongo's presence continues to harm Malaga as the forward comes close to meeting a low cross from Soriano, but Angeleri manages to turn behind his own crossbar. The resulting corner is delivered towards Soriano, but this time Gamez clears. Still goalless with little over 30 minutes of football remaining.
Half-chance for Malaga to threaten from a free kick outside the Almeria box, but Duda's delivery is straight into the wall. Moments later Gamez, who has never scored in La Liga, attempts one from outside the box, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar. It remains goalless in this relegation six-pointer.
Tissone rides his luck as the Malaga midfielder fells Zongo outside the Almeria box, but the referee decides against issuing the Argentine his second yellow card. Torsiglieri comes close from the resulting set piece, but he had moved into an offside position after bringing a fine save from Malaga goalkeeper Caballero.
The end-to-end period of the match continues as both sides attempt to force the issue in the final third, but both are finding it extremely difficult to test the opposing goalkeeper. You just get the feeling that one goal would be enough to claim all the points. Both managers appear to be preparing more changes with 66 minutes on the clock.
Another opportunity for Almeria to threaten from a free kick as Tissone fells Vidal outside the Malaga box. The resulting set piece is taken by Verza, but once more the offside flag is raised with Soriano moving too soon into the box. Still goalless in this relegation six-pointer.
Almeria make their second change of the match as Rodri enters the field in place of Soriano, which is not much of a surprise. The Spaniard rarely completes 90 minutes. You just get the feeling that chances will arrive for both sides in the latter stages as the legs begin to tire.
The referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of minutes due to a number of late challenges, which has been a feature of this match. Both sides have had plenty of free kicks in advanced areas, but the overall quality has been extremely poor this evening.
Malaga's threat continues to arrive from the wide positions, but it just will not fall for a blue shirt inside the Almeria box. It appears that the away side are preparing to make a double change as the second period enters its latter stages.
It's bright work from Zongo as the powerful forward runs the length of the Malaga half before finding Barbosa, but his effort is straight at Caballero from inside the box. Malaga do indeed make a double change moments later as Perez and Iakovenko replace Tissone and Samuel.
Rodri takes matters into his own hands for the home side as he drives into the Malaga half before fronting up Angeleri, but the defender shows his strength. Duda is down the other end moments later, but his cross is straight into the arms of Esteban.
Still no yellow card from the referee in the second period, which is quite incredible when taking into account the number of late challenges that have occurred. Malaga continue to look the more threatening in the final third, but without really forcing Esteban into action.
In fairness to both sets of supporters, they have continued to create a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium despite little to get excited about on the field. Malaga are preparing to make their third and final change and it is an attacking move with El Hamdaoui receiving his final instructions.
The change is indeed made as El Hamdaoui enters the field in place of Santa Cruz, who has struggled this evening. You just get the feeling that there is one more big chance in this match. Little over three minutes of the 90 remaining.
Almeria make their third and final change as Corona enters the field in place of Verza. The free-kick count continues to rise as Azeez is felled by Duda, but once more the delivery from Rafita is short of the required quality.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes and we are indeed into the second of those. Almeria threaten with a set piece from the edge of the box, but Gamez clears under pressure from Trujillo, who fires over the crossbar moments later.
FULL TIME: Almeria 0-0 Malaga
So there we have it. The referee brings the match to an end with the two sides level at 0-0. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us for more La Liga football tomorrow. Until then!
