In a first top-flight meeting between the two sides since April 2018, it was Malaga who started on the front foot, with Juan Cruz seeing a speculative effort from range parried behind by Leo Roman.
The visitors grew into the contest after a disjointed opening quarter-hour, and a breakthrough soon followed, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched onto a clever pass from Luismi Cruz before rounding Alfonso Herrero to net for the second successive match.
Unbeaten in the last six H2Hs (W3, D3), Malaga searched for an immediate response, with Chupe and Joaquin Munoz seeing a pair of dangerous strikes blocked.
Los Albicelestes’ pressure paid dividends in the 34th minute when Rafita was brought down by Lucas Noubi in the box, allowing Chupe to step up and confidently dispatch the penalty beyond Roman.
Despite that setback, Deportivo nearly restored their lead on the stroke of half-time, only for Aubameyang to fire narrowly wide when well-placed in the area.
Similar to the first half, Malaga saw plenty of the ball in the early stages of the second period, as Izan Merino threatened with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.
Clear-cut openings were in short supply, though, with Aubameyang’s angled strike kept out smartly by Herrero.
After creating little of note in the final third, a golden chance fell the way of the hosts in the 76th minute, but Chupe fluffed his lines, heading against the bar from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy.
Malaga went close again through substitute Haitam Abaida’s free-kick, while Chupe blazed wastefully over from range.
Despite further pressure from the hosts in the closing stages, the Deportivo rearguard held firm under pressure, as Antonio Hidalgo’s men extended their unbeaten run in Monday-held La Liga away games to six (W3, D3).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Deportivo A Coruna)