Terry Venables' future at Elland Road was looking increasingly bleak after yet more misery and ill-fortune sent Leeds tumbling out of Europe.

Despite their resolute no-score draw in Spain, Leeds never looked like overcoming their La Liga opponents in the UEFA Cup third round, second leg and slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Any hopes of European competition providing something of a respite from Leeds' domestic troubles were dashed, and United have now lost six out of their last seven home games in all competitions.

To further compound Venables' woes, Michael Bridges - making only his second start after two years out with ankle and knee injuries - ruptured his Achilles tendon in an innocuous off-the-ball incident and is almost certainly out for the season.

Two goals from Dely Valdes either side of an Eirik Bakke strike settled a tie that the Spaniards dominated in large periods, and Venables left a dejected figure having spent the last few minutes of the game listening to the fans yet again calling for his head.

But once more it was matters out of the former England boss' hands which started the night in dismal fashion - and further worsened his already crippling injury list.

In only his second start of the season after almost two years out with knee and ankle injuries, 24-year-old Bridges crumpled after seemingly catching his studs in the turf.

It was later revealed he had ruptured his Achilles tendon and been taken to hospital, yet another cruel blow for the striker.

Leeds' night took a turn for the worse in the 14th minute, when Danny Mills was beaten easily by Musampa down the left flank, and his cross was turned in by Valdes for a crucial away goal for the visitors.

Two minutes later Lee Bowyer was involved in an ugly incident near the halfway line, appearing to stamp on Gerardo's head after a challenge.

The England midfielder felled his opponent with a wild challenge and then in his haste to get to the ball apparently stamped on the prone 28-year-old's face.

Visiting players immediately surrounded midfielder Bowyer with Gerardo writhing in obvious discomfort on the pitch, but referee Massimo Busacca deemed a yellow card to be sufficient punishment, although whether UEFA will take a similarly lenient view is questionable.

But just as it seemed to be turning into another nightmare night for Leeds and Venables, the home side levelled in the 24th minute.

Gary Kelly's inswinging ball from the left appeared to have been cleared to safety off the head of a defender, but Robbie Fowler - on as substitute for Bridges - deftly retrieved the ball from near the byline, hoisting it back into the six-yard box where Eirik Bakke was on hand to emphatically volley home.

Leeds started the second half brightly and were inches away from taking the lead in the 47th minute.

Bursting down the right, Alan Smith delivered a superb cross but Bowyer's header flashed just wide of the near post.

Attack was now definitely the only policy for Venables' men as a score draw would mean their exit from the competition.

The Spaniards were already employing obvious delaying tactics at every opportunity, much to the crowd's annoyance.

And to make matters worse tension within the home side seemed to be spilling over, with Jason Wilcox and Kelly engaging in a furious argument.

The referee had to be at his most alert to the efforts of the visitors to waste time, and Fernando Sanz became the fourth Spaniard to be yellow-carded after he threw the ball away.

Meanwhile Paul Robinson, having another excellent night between the posts, had to stretch to save Musampa's powerful 20-yard shot.

But Leeds' fate was sealed 10 minutes from time as Valdes turned brilliantly inside Jonathan Woodgate and fired an unstoppable volley past Robinson.

Smith had a chance to drag the hosts level again when he found himself unmarked eight yards out but his low shot was held by Pedro Contreras.

Teams

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Woodgate, Duberry, Kelly, Bowyer, Bakke, Okon, Wilcox, Smith, Bridges (Fowler 9).

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Radebe, McPhail, Seth Johnson, Kilgallon.

Booked: Bowyer, Smith.

Goals: Bakke 23.

Malaga: Contreras, Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce, Manu (Sandro 57), Gerardo, Romero, Musampa (Miguel Angel 78), Silva, Dely Valdes (Litos 90).

Subs Not Used: Arnau, Iznata, Leko, Koke.

Booked: Gerardo, Valcarce, Silva, Fernando Sanz, Sandro.

Goals: Dely Valdes 14, 80.

Att: 34,123

Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).