Aubameyang scores again, Chupete answers from the spot, and the promoted sides split it

Two promoted clubs, one point each, and the same man scoring the same goal at the same time as the week before. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Deportivo ahead on 21 minutes at La Rosaleda — exactly as he had against Elche seven days earlier.

Chupete equalised from the penalty spot on 34, and that was the scoring done for the night.

Thirteen shots, two on target

Málaga had the ball, the territory and the volume: 55% possession, 526 passes at 90%, 13 shots and eight corners. What they did not have was accuracy. Two of those 13 shots hit the target, eight came from outside the box, and one hit the woodwork.

Deportivo were the opposite — six shots, four on target, and a goalkeeper at the other end who had to make four saves. ESPN's expected goals gave Málaga 1.97 to Deportivo's 1.11, which is a fair reflection of who spent longer in the final third and a poor reflection of who came closer.

Match facts

• 21' — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Deportivo)
• 34' — Chupete (Málaga), penalty

What's next

It is a first point of the season for Málaga and a second draw in two for Deportivo, who have now taken something from both of their matches back in the top flight. Neither has won yet; neither has been beaten by anyone other than Atlético Madrid.

How the two sides' paths split after La Rosaleda

The point at La Rosaleda turned out to be the high-water mark of Málaga's season so far. The promoted side have not won a single league match in the five rounds since: a 4-0 defeat at the Bernabéu in which Jude Bellingham dribbled past three defenders and Real Madrid led 3-0 inside half an hour, without Málaga managing a shot on target; a goalless draw with Levante in which goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saved a ninth-minute penalty; a 1-1 at Celta Vigo rescued by Adrián Niño's 83rd-minute equaliser after Ferran Jutglà had headed the hosts in front; a 1-3 home defeat to Villarreal in which Carlos Dotor's early goal was overturned by Alberto Moleiro and a Pape Gueye brace; and, most recently, a 1-0 loss at Getafe settled by Iván Azón eight minutes from time, despite Málaga holding more of the ball and more corners on the day.

Deportivo went the other way. Two own goals and a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike beat Valencia 3-1 at Riazor, and a stoppage-time Aubameyang header won it 3-2 away at Villarreal. A draw at Getafe kept the unbeaten run alive at five matches before it ended at Riazor, where Sevilla won 1-0 through Miguel Sierra and Deportivo finished with ten men after Angeliño's yellow card was upgraded to red on VAR review. The Galicians answered immediately, coming from behind to draw 1-1 with a Real Betis side that had won four in a row, Diego Villares levelling in the 87th minute.

Where the table stands seven matchdays in

The gap between the two promoted sides that shared a point in August has since widened into one of the biggest in the division. Deportivo sit 7th on 10 points from seven matches — two wins, four draws and a single defeat, for a goal difference of +2 — occupying a European qualification place this season. Málaga are 20th and bottom, without a win in seven league games: three points from three draws, a goal difference of -9 with only three goals scored and twelve conceded. Chupete's penalty against Deportivo remains one of only three goals Málaga have managed all season, while Aubameyang has already found the net again for Deportivo since, against both Valencia and Villarreal.