 After spending most of the campaign sidelined with a severe knee injury, he helped the team win the Copa del Rey, netting the second goal in a 3–1 win over former club Getafe in the final, after Juan Mata had scored the opener.On 14 September 2008 Alexis, who started the season as Raúl Albiol centre-back partner, netted in a 2–2 draw at UD Almería, but also spent two months in the sidelines due to a pubalgia ailment.He appeared in 24 games in the following campaign, helping the "Che" to a third-place in La Liga and former side Málaga avoid relegation as he headed home in the last-minute of the home fixture against CD Tenerife, which dropped down a level instead with that 0–1 loss.