Missed chances cost Sevilla at Malaga

Sevilla dominated against Malaga but were forced to settle for a point as the sides played out a goalless draw.

Malaga enjoyed good spells but Sevilla created the best chances throughout, with Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Ivan Rakitic each going close.

But the game's standout chance fell to Rakitic midway through the second half, but the Croatian nodded wide when it seemed easier to score.

The result leaves Sevilla with an outside bet of qualifying for the Europa League, while Malaga, who are banned from European competition next season, remain sixth.

Malaga went into this game in sixth and unlikely to overhaul Valencia for the fourth Champions League place. But with it widely reported that Manuel Pellegrini will replace Roberto Mancini as Manchester City coach and a European ban looming, Malaga have bigger thngs to worry about.

They started this game strongly and could have had a penalty inside two minutes when Cala appeared to handle it, but Sevilla were slicker on the attack and created the best of the first half chances, with Negredo volleying just wide, Navas missing a good chance at the far post and Rakitic seeing a header tipped over.

Malaga lost Pedro Morales and Eliseu to injuries as Sevilla continued to create the better chances, with Cala going close with a looping header after he was picked out by Rakitic.

But Rakitic was guilty of missing the game's biggest chance, somehow heading wide from six yards when any effort on target would surely have seen Sevilla take the lead.

The game remained an open one, but neither side could make the breakthrough as they shared the spoils.