Match Reports

Well, what about this weather? Here on the Costa we've had heavy rain for five days (although today we are back to "normal" with clear blue sky and sunshine). Elsewhere in Spain they've been having snow in places which haven't had snow in a lifetime for some old folks and it's the main news story every night on Spanish TV. There was even deep snow in Malaga province (up to the north and up in the mountains admittedly). However that did not stop the weekend's football. The worst pitch was in Soria up in the Pyrenees, where Numancia had to clear three feet of snow off the pitch before their game with Barcelona (which ended 1-1).
Malaga also had to make the long trip up to the north of Spain to Pamplona (you know, that mad place where they chase bulls through the streets each Spring?) to play Osasuna. Now Osasuna on paper was going to be a difficult match as they were sitting in 11th place in the league, but Malaga is their "bestia negro" and Osasuna haven't beaten Malaga for the last seven games. How would Tapia's men get on against them? I switched on teletexto on Canal Sur with some apprehension on Sunday night to get the score. And there it was: Osasuna 1 Malaga 6. SIX!!! What a result! The game was over after only thirteen minutes as Miguel Angel had scored in only two minutes and Baiano had opened his Malaga account with a stunning individual effort. Then Duda scored a rare goal after a free kick had been awarded inside the box after the goalkeeper picked up the ball from a pass back to make it 3-0 before half time. Then Juan Rodriguez made it four early in the second half. Things started to get nasty, as frustration took over and Osasuna had two men sent off for off the ball "tackles". However they did pull one back after Arnau had made a save and their forward was first to the rebound. But Baiano got his second before substitute Wanchope rounded things off with a free header after a corner taken on the right by Miguel Angel. Wow! What a result! This was a result that moved Malaga a little clear of the dreaded relegation zone into 12th place, giving them some breathing space of seven points ahead of the 18th (and first of the three relegation slots).
This week in Spain, with the worst weather recorded in over thirty years for this period, the football fixtures throw up a midweek game to give the teams three games this week.
Last night it was the turn of Athletic Bilboa (Athletic, not Atletico, as the team from the Bay of Biscay was founded by English sailors in the port). Now Athletic were also doing quite well this season, sitting in eighth position in La Liga and had progressed into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup after finishing fifth last season. Their team has been together for a long time and features four players with experience of playing for Spain. Their main threat in front of goal has been the experienced striker Urzaiz, but ably supported by Yeste and winger Etxeberria. So it's a surprise when the team is announced and Urzaiz is on the bench, with the young, tall imposing Azkorra given the striker's role: Athletic (4-2-3-1): Aranzubia, Iraola, Murillo, Prieto and Del Horno, Tiko and Orbaiz, Etxeberria, Yeste and Ezquerro, Azkorra.
La Roselda looked strange with the old main stand half demolished as Malaga continue to improve their ground to meet World Cup standards. This means that the teams come onto the field through a new innovation - a large blue extending concertina-type tunnel from one of the Fondo corners! Also the fact that the main stand is out of commission gives the ground an unbalanced look, with the crowd on three sides only of the rectangle. As for the team, unsurprisingly, Tapia gives the nod to the same team that has produced three wins in a row (including that 1-6 result on Sunday): Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau, Gerardo, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce, Juanito and Romero, Juan Rodriguez, Miguel Angel and Duda, Baiano.
We were in fear of getting wet for the first time in two seasons last night as the rain had been incessant since Friday and was forecast for the rest of the week. However, for the football, there was no rain, no wind and it was even quite mild at around 18C for the 20:00h kick-off. Helen was with me again as Geoff couldn't make it and as it was a Wednesday we just had to go to the shopping mall around the corner from the ground (where we park the car) before the game. Needless to say, we had less time than usual to get ourselves settled in before the game started. In fact we had almost just sat down, when Malaga kicked off, having lost the toss and defending the Fondo end in the first half. Malaga were in their blue and white stripes with blue shorts, Athletic in their normal red and white stripes with black shorts.
So it took us all by surprise when in the second minute, Miguel Angel wins the ball in the centre circle and sends through a delightful pass for Duda to run onto. The little Portuguese winger beat a defender before sending an inch perfect pass to JUAN RODRIGUEZ. The burly striker took the ball on his right foot, went past a defender then the onrushing keeper, before unleashing a powerful shot into the empty net with his left foot.
Malaga 1 Athletic 0
What a start! Was it to be another six of the best? Another goalfest?
We wondered, but not for long as the game developed into a dreary midfield battle interrupted continuously for free kicks by an over fussy referee. In fact we had to wait until the 20' before the next shot on goal and that was from a clearly frustrated Duda, who attempted to beat the keeper from the halfway line which went well wide.
Then Athletic began to take more control of the game, keeping possession with some neat and accurate passing. The young striker, Azkorra, looked as if he could be a bit of a handful and in 25' came close with a header after some nifty work in midfield created the chance. It's Azkorra again the following minute, when this time he gets ball to feet and starts on a run, going past three men, but his shot is blocked by Cesar and cleared upfield to Romero. The bandy legged Uruguayan finds Baiano on the left and he makes a run along the 18 yard line, evading tackles from three defenders. The fourth defender is about to make a tackle when the Brazilian releases the ball to Juan Rodriguez, now standing alone on the right. He takes a step forward before unleashing a powerful drive at goal, which Aranzubia has to make an excellent save to stop it from making it 2-0.
Athletic however were more in the game and most of their play was down the right wing where Etxeberria was proving too good for the usually dependable Valcarce. The Spanish international got to the touchline and send in a powerful cross which had Arnau at full stretch to palm away from the onrushing Azkorra.
In 33' it's still Etxeberria causing trouble and he pops up in the middle to head a cross from left winger Ezquerro and Arnau can only watch and hope as it sailed just the other side of the post.
In 36' Athletic make their first substitution, with right back Gonzalez coming on for Tiko. It seems to be tactical and Iraola moves forward to take the midfield role. In 38' there's a stooshie in the box as Miguel Angel is felled by an elbow off the ball (clearly seen in the later TV slo-mo). But neither the referee or his assistant have seen this and although the Malaga players swarm around the referee like a swarm of bees, no penalty is awarded.
The game dissolves again into a midfield battle with both sides cancelling each other out.
Half time Malaga 1 Athletic 0
Athletic take the field early for the second half, perhaps to get themselves warmed up and used to the conditions and slightly greasy surface. It seems like five minutes before the Malaga team finally emerges from the blue tunnel in the corner of the pitch and the game can resume.
Whatever the reason for Athletic's early return, it's Malaga who go close in 47' when, after Miguel Angel has been flattened for the umpteenth time in the match, Juan Rodriguez takes the free kick using Roberto Carlos-type power, but Aranzubia makes a great save and manages to get to the spilled ball before Baiano.
Then Athletic keep possession for several minutes in midfield to no great effect. It's Malaga who make the break in 55' and Duda rushes onto a Juan Rodriguez cross and clashes with the goalkeeper on the penalty spot. It looks serious for Duda and he's stretchered off to be replaced by Iznata. The left full back and deputy for the ever present Valcarce at last gets his chance in front of the home crowd and takes his place wide on the left wing. Baiano is also substituted and Amoroso takes his place. Athletic also make a change and bring on Urzaiz for Azkorra.
In 63' it's the first card of the game and it's yellow for Murillo for a foul on Iznata. From the free kick, Miguel Angel finds Amoroso but his header is straight at the keeper. Malaga are coming back into the game and from a Gerardo throw in on the right, he takes the return from Juan Rodriguez, beats two defenders as he runs along the by-line, but his cross is too strong and passes both the onrushing Amoroso and Iznata to fall to Valcarce out wide on the left wing. The full back unleashes a screamer on the volley, which has Aranzubia diving full length to hold the ball and make an excellent save.
In 66' Miguel Angel is booked for diving, after being flattened yet again by the uncompromising Athletic defenders.
That's it for Malaga and it becomes a torrid last twenty minutes as Athletic try to find a way past the unyielding Malaga defence. It's not pretty but the defensive wall of the back four plus Romero and Juanito and now Iznata is too much for the Athletic forwards to penetrate.
Still, into the 90th minute among the shrill whistles from the crowd urging the referee to blow the whistle for full time and Arnau has to make a double save after close range shots in crowded penalty area after Etxeberria's clever corner kick eluded both Cesar and Fernando Sanz.
Full time Malaga 1 Athletic 0
This fourth win in a row takes Malaga up into 11th spot in the league table. Although a dreich affair, the quality of the opposition should not be underestimated and this was another excellent result, which has got the Spanish press talking about Malaga as a potential for Europe next season. A bit early for that, although this league is a bit like that, with so many good teams being closely matched. However, the next three games will be the biggest test for Tapia and his team as they take on Deportivo away (a game to be shown live on Canal+, Spain's equivalent of Sky Sports, so may be that might be Sky's Sunday game next week too?), Real Betis at home, then Real Madrid away.
The Andalucian derby is always one to savour and a win over Betis has almost the same feeling towards it as, say, Celtic beating Rangers, Spurs beating Arsenal, Scotland beating England or even Raith Rovers beating Dunfermline Pathetic. Don't fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will the there!