Malaga had picked up just three points from a possible 15 since beating Getafe on 5 February, but Juanpi's superb 25-yard strike saw them back on track at La Rosaleda.
The 22-year-old Venezuela international's match-winning contribution came in the 25th minute when he picked up the ball up just outside the box, cut back on his left foot and curled an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.
That goal lifted Malaga up to eighth place ahead of this weekend's fixtures, while Sporting remain in the bottom two after suffering a fourth successive loss.
The visitors had claims for a penalty right at the end when they felt Pablo Perez's cross had struck the arm of Pablo Fornals as he jumped to block, but the appeals were waved away.
Sporting were also denied by a fine save earlier in the second half by Guillermo Ochoa, who turned away Antonio Sanabria's header from Alberto Lora's cross.
Ochoa was also called on to deny Sanabria from a good opportunity at the start of the game.
Had that gone in it could have been a different story and Sporting might have been celebrating a first win since January, but it the end it was Malaga who got their season back up and running as they moved to within eight points of the top six.
