Match Reports

Straight after last week's crushing 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Valencia, what better way for Malaga to bounce back than to face the mighty Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the capital. To date Madrid's home record in La Liga was Played 10, Won 10, For 26, Away 8. In comparison, Malaga to date have lost all seven of their matches played since New Year's Day.
Real Madrid had a cup game against Sevilla in midweek, for which they rested several of their stars, but it was a full team out against Malaga. Real Madrid (4-4-1-1): Casillas, Salgado, Pavon, Bravo, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Beckham, Borja, Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo.
Juande Ramos did not have anchor man Romero available, out through suspension. Arnau was suspended after being sent of last week, so Calatayud retained his position in goal. Valcarce returned to left back, with Rojas switching to right back. Josemi occupied the centre back position alongside Sanz and Juanito took Romero's position in front of the back four. Litos dropped to the bench and there was a return for Edgar, back after injury out on the right wing. Malaga (4-1-4-1): Calatayud, Rojas, Josemi, Sanz, Valcarce, Juanito, Edgar, Gerardo, Michel Angel, Duda and Salva.
Real Madrid kicked off, but it was Malaga who showed early on. They do have the same skill base as "Los Blancos" but they were going to make up for it by hard work and closing down quickly to prevent the Madrid flair players to express themselves. Edgar in particular worried Madrid with his strong runs down the right and Salva connected well fro his cross but it went straight to Casillas. We had to wait 11 minutes before Madrid showed in attack. Then Roberto Carlos's cross from the left went strongly across goal and strongly out for a throw. In 12 minutes Malaga were given an opportunity when Edgar was upended just outside the box, but Duda's free kick hit the wall. In 22 minutes Malaga had a penalty claim turned down after Salva was brought down in a Pavon/Bravo sandwich, but the referee just waved "play-on". This seemed to give Madrid a jolt and they swept upfield with a number of characteristic passes: Beckham - Zidane - Roberto Carlos - Zidane - Beckham - Figo. Figo beat Duda as he started a run but his pass into the box was met by Sanz, who clumsily hoofed the ball clear. It went straight to Beckham who sent a 20 yard cross wide right to the overlapping Salgado, who looked suspiciously offside. The Malaga defence had moved out leaving both Raul and Ronaldo alone in the six yard box. The flag stayed down and although Raul missed Salgado's cross, RONALDO was there to tap it home from three yards. Madrid's first shot at goal!
Edgar continued to cause havoc with his running but his cross when met by Salva went straight to Casillas. In 30 mins Raul was tripped by Sanz in the semicircle of the penalty box. Beckham's free kick was close, skiffing the roof of the net as it went over the bar. Just before half time, Sanz had an opportunity after a corner from Duda, but his shot was off target with the goal gaping. Then Zidane fell over just outside the Malaga penalty box and a freekick was awarded, but Beckham's effort this time went into Row Z. Half time 1-0.
Two minutes after the restart, Beckham was given a third opportunity when Ronaldo went crashing after a ling bursting run. Again the lad in Row Z had to dive for cover, as Beckham sent it well over. Then a real scare for Malaga as Ronaldo ran down the left, beat Rojas before sending a weak but placed shot wide of Calatayud. Agonisingly the ball trundled towards the goal, but came off the far post, where Juanito cleared to safety.
Disaster for Malaga in the 58 min when Raul kicked the ball off Valcarce's arm in a close challenge and the referee awarded a free kick, again in the semicircle of the penalty box. This time Beckham was pushed aside to allow ROBERTO CARLOS score with a trademark bullet, high into the top right hand corner to make it 2-0.
Malaga did not give up and in 60 mins, Casillas had to bring off two magnificent saves in quick succession to deny Gerardo, whose piledriver from 20 yards, could only be parried by Spain's No1 onto Salva's head. His header was goal bound but Casillas somehow managed to dive across to his left and turn it round the post.
With 65 minutes gone, there was a flurry of substations on both sides. First Rojas came off for Insua, an attacking substitution, with Josemi moving to right back and Juanito moving back into the back four. Raul came off for Portillo, whose first action as to get booked for a foul on Duda. Figo was then replaced by Nunez, as Madrid seemed to believe the game was won. Malaga also replaced Edgar with Manu and the disappointing Duda came off in 72 minutes for Luque to make a rare appearance on the left wing. What an appearance!. Insua won the ball in the centre circle and slipped the ball forward to Salva. Luque was running free down the left wing and Salva's pass was perfect. LUQUE took the ball into the box and hit a sweet shot past the diving Casillas and into the net at the far post. Great goal! 2-1
Malaga piled on the pressure and were unlucky not find an equaliser with shots being fired in by Gerardo, Salva, Insua and Luque. There was only one respite in the last 10 mins for Madrid, but Beckham's free kick in the 81st minute hit the wall. More practice required, son.
Real Madrid looked delighted when the final whistle was blown and their perfect home record in the league remains intact. Another defeat for Malaga, but they acquitted themselves well and must take some confidence from this performance. Next week bottom club Espanyol visit La Roseleda, so let's hope "our Boys" can get back to winning ways. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!