Real Madrid's hopes of lifting the Primera Liga crown may have already evaporated but they at least managed to end their poor recent run as a Roberto Carlos goal secured a slender home victory over Malaga.
After seeing the gap between themselves and Barcelona grow to 14 points following their bitter rivals' 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, it seems Wanderley Luxemburgo's side are now simply fighting to secure second place in the table.
Real had claimed only four points in their previous five league games, giving the chasing pack real hope of hunting down the Santiago Bernabeu giants.
But they halted their slide against lowly Malaga, with Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos coming to the rescue just after the hour when he crashed in a typically thunderous 25-yard shot.
In truth the home side could have won at a canter but a combination of poor finishing - especially by the out-of-form Ronaldo - and good goalkeeping kept the visitors in with a chance up until the final whistle.
Despite starting as if they had a point to prove, Real - recently dumped out of the Champions League to virtually end their hopes of claiming silverware this season - almost conceded in the 18th minute.
Joao Fernando Baiano found himself in space in the area and thrashed the ball just wide of Iker Casillas' post.
Real's first opportunity came via Ronaldo six minutes later but having collected Raul's pass, his shot was rather in keeping with his performances in recent weeks as it flew well over the bar.
Zidane went closer after 37 minutes when he ran onto Roberto Carlos' pass but dragged his shot the wrong side of the post.
David Beckham was struggling to find his range from the centre of midfield while Guti, his partner in the engine room, was hassled off the ball on on a number of occasions as a poor first half came to a close.
The second period did see an ostensible improvement by Madrid, and Ronaldo will not know how he failed to open the scoring in the 52nd minute.
Raul split the defence with a superb slide-rule pass but the Brazil striker, one-on-one with goalkeeper Francesc Arnau, could only hit his shot straight at the former Barcelona shot-stopper.
Malaga wasted their best chance of the game two minutes later when an unmarked Fernando Sanz headed a floated corner into the side-netting with the goal gaping in front of him.
Just after the hour, Roberto Carlos cut in from the left flank and unleashed a trademark thunderbolt that flew in past Arnau to give Madrid a lead they would not relinquish.
In what would ultimately be the away side's last chance to equalise, Baiano got his head to a lofted corner in the 66th minute but but a relieved Casillas saw the ball drift over the bar.
Real had two more chances to extend their lead but first Beckham, then Ronaldo failed to trouble Arnau.
