Castro goal sinks struggling Malaga

Veteran striker Ruben Castro's fifth goal in six games earned Real Betis a 1-0 La Liga victory over Malaga.

The 34-year-old coolly finished in the 64th minute to end Betis' three-game winless run and move them into the top half of the table.

Malaga thought they should have had a penalty early on when the ball struck former Hamburg defender Heiko Westermann's hand in the box after Duda stepped over the ball.

Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni produced a sharp near-post save to deny Castro, while counterpart Antonio Adan stood up to thwart Juan Carlos at the other end.

Castro continued to look lively but headed over from six yards after losing his man at Joaquin's cross.

There were chances at either end, though, Adnane Tighadouini firing just wide while Adan again came out to stop Juan Carlos at his near post.

But an error from Roberto Rosales allowed Castro to profit in the second period.

Rosales' loose control on the byline let Francisco Varela poke the ball away from him and Castro moved into the area before opening his body and curling the ball into the corner.

Betis held on to move up to ninth, while Malaga suffered their second straight 1-0 loss to remain 17th in the Primera Division.