Malaga held on following a second-half brace from Getafe's Alvaro Vazquez as they recorded a 3-2 victory at La Rosaleda on Saturday night.
Juanmi headed the hosts ahead early on before Vazquez netted his first 10 minutes into the second half to level matters. Goals from Sergi Darder and Ricardo Horta put Malaga 3-1 up before Vazquez scored his second after 76 minutes, but the hosts held on for the win.
The result sees Javi Gracia's men remain seventh in the Primera Division standings, while their opponents dropped down a spot into 14th following their defeat.
The hosts started brightest and Samu came close to opening the scoring but his close-range effort was held out by visiting goalkeeper Jonathan.
After 10 minutes the home side took the lead as Juanmi headed home Roberto Rosales' cross from the right wing with a close-range finish for his second in two games after his winner at Barcelona last weekend and sixth goal of the season.
Emiliano Velazquez almost sent Pedro Leon's free-kick into the back of the net two minutes later but he fired the ball too high from 20 yards out as the visitors looked to level the scores.
Malaga came close to adding a second 10 minutes before the break with two chances in quick succession. The first came as Darder's corner picked out Samu Castillejo on the edge of the box, but Jonathan was on hand to keep his shot at bay.
The second effort from Horta's corner found the feet of Marcos Angeleri, who sent his close-range effort wide.
Getafe pressed after the break and Vazquez equalised 10 minutes in as he fired home Leon's cross from the right with a close-range finish.
But the hosts took the lead for the second time two minutes later as Horta picked out Darder 30 yards out and the 21-year-old midfielder fired a thunderbolt into the top right of the Getafe goal.
Malaga were not through yet and went further ahead when Samu provided an assist midway through the second half, putting the ball in for Horta to slot home from close-range from the right of the box.
Abdoul Yoda tried his luck from range for the visitors with 15 minutes remaining but home stopper Carlos Kameni managed to tip the shot round the post.
Moments later Getafe were celebrating their second goal as Vazquez fired home Emiliano Velazquez's header from six yards out for his second goal of the game.
Kameni was called on again as the away side searched for a late equaliser, the goalkeeper holding out Pablo Sarabia's long-range goal-bound effort after 84 minutes but the hosts held on for all three points.