Match Reports

Tapia's men face three tough matches in a row. Last week, it was away to Deportivo La Coruna. Malaga were defeated 1-0 through a very soft penalty award and also suffered the sending off of Cesar (for two laughable bookable offences). The technical term for that game was "We wuz robbed". Next weekend, Malaga are away to Real Madrid (who were beaten yesterday 2-1 by fellow Madrid team, Getafe, with Solari getting Real Madrid's consolation in the 89th minute).

This weekend, it's Real Betis at home. Betis are a big club with over 40,000 season ticket holders. Lying seventh in the table, just outside the European slots, they boast some superstars in their line-up. First of all there is the £20m+ rated right winger, Joaquin, a Spanish internationalist at 20, and a possible transfer target for Chelsea. They also boast in Oliveira a striker whose 15 goals so far this season make him third top scorer in the league (behind Barcelona's Eto'o (19) and Villarreal's Forlan (16), yes, he's on loan from Manchester United). Oliveira's two Brazilian countrymen, Edu and Assuncao, have also been regularly on the scoresheet, particularly Assuncao, who has outshone many more illustrious scoring deadball takers in La Liga (particularly, D Beckham) with some amazing freekicks, especially in the range 30-40 yards. In goal there is Toni Doblas, another young goalkeeper who has been taking the eye. And in reserve, there is another Brazilian, Denilson, who is worth the admission money on his own, when he plays to form. They play counter attack football, with pace and accurate passing, in an increasingly popular formation (4-2-3-1). Team: Doblas, Melli, Rivas, Juanito, Fernandez, Arzu and Assuncao, Joaquin, Edu and Fernando, Oliveira.
Malaga make one change from their normal line-up, with the big Portuguese centre back, Litos (an ever-present last season) replacing the suspended Cesar. Team (4-1-2-2-1): Arnau, Gerardo, Litos, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce, Romero, Michel Angel and Juanito, Juan Rodriguez and Duda, Baiano. Juan Rodriguez plays wide right and Duda on the left with Miguel Angel the main support for Baiano through the middle.

It's Sunday night. It's 10pm (yes, 10pm). The game is live on Spanish TV. It's a very mild 16C, with no wind. There are flares going off, big drums being beat in a steady rhythm, huge banners covering from top to bottom of the stands all around the ground, we've also got those infuriating flashy touchline advertising boards which have Toyota Yaris's driving from left to right. The ground is full, with a large contingent from Sevilla to support Betis, for after all this is a derby match. La Roselda looks different, as the main stand to our right has been completely demolished and from our seats we can see traffic moving on the street. But it's as fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and when Malaga run out of their new blue tunnel onto the pitch, they are welcomed with a cacophony of noise and blue and white confetti from the top tier of the stands. Geoff has failed to make it again, so Helen is beside me, as Betis win the toss and elect to kick towards our end at the Fondo in the first half.

The game has hardly settled down from the kick-off when, in the third minute, Arzu finds Joaquin on the right touchline. This is going to be a big night for our left back Valcarce, who must snuff out the runs and crosses from this very dangerous threat. So the experienced full back makes his presence felt and the young winger is felled 30 yards out, wide on the touchline. Assuncao takes the kick into a crowded penalty box, but Litos heads it out. The back four quickly move forward, but the ball comes back to JUANITO, the Betis centre back, standing in the clear(ly offside position) and strokes the ball past Arnau. The goal is given much to the anger of the Malaga players and crowd alike, but the referee has decided, so that's that.
Malaga 0 Betis 1
Malaga are stunned by this start, not what they wanted at all. So we have to wait until the 9th minute before they mount their first real threat on goal. Romero wins the ball in midfield and finds Baiano on the left wing. He runs past three defenders before cutting back to Romero, who, with plenty of time, is able to send in a piledriver. But it is well wide. Malaga come closer in the 12' when Duda is fouled by Joaquin out on the left wing. Unusually, it's Baiano who takes the kick. We see why as he sends in a screamer which Doblas does very well to get a hand to. From the corner kick, Duda finds Baiano who knocks it onto Litos. The big centre back is clearly being held back, but no penalty is awarded. (Fact - Malaga are the only team in La Liga this season who have not scored from the penalty spot. They have only been awarded one all season and Juan Rodriguez missed). It's still very early in the game, but already we are beginning to think that nothing was going our way.
This is confirmed in 17'. Malaga have been pressing for an equaliser, with Betis very much on the back foot. There are some dubious tackles in midfield, for which most referees would award a free-kick for, if not shown a card or two. This referee wants to see a flowing game and allows "advantage". Romero is hacked down in midfield, but the ball breaks to Duda, so the ref waves "play on". Of course, Duda is promptly tackled by Melli, who passes it quickly to Assuncao. The Brazilian lobs over the Malaga defence, who are up at the centre line, and EDU runs onto the ball, takes it past the flailing Arnau and it's 0-2.
Malaga 0 Betis 2
Our Brazilian, Baiano, is looking very lively at this point, with a good first touch and movement. But our star is Romero, the bandy legged Uruguayan, who is strong in the tackle and purposeful with every pass. The two who have been making Malaga tick since the turn of the year, Miguel Angel and Juan Rodriguez, are almost absent from the play tonight.
In 23' Baiano wins a corner by harassing Fernandez, when the ball should just have been cleared up. Duda's corner, though, is just headed over by Litos. Then in 26' Duda is fouled out on the left wing, 40 yards out. He takes it short to Romero, who finds BAIANO in the "D" with a super accurate pass through a ruck of players' legs. The striker doesn't hesitate and spins around to beat Doblas from 20 yards. Malaga are back in the game!
Malaga 1 Betis 2
Tapia recognises that there is nothing happening down our right wing at all and makes a surprise substitution after only 30 minutes. Juan Rodriguez comes off for Tote (the striker is on-loan from Betis and very keen to show them what they are missing). Miguel Angel moves right and Tote takes up the more central role, playing off Baiano.
In 36' Romero again wins the ball and sees Miguel Angel making a run down the right. The midfielder runs into the box and is one on one with Doblas, but the young goalkeeper manages to block the shot.
The following minute, Gerardo is deemed to fouled Fernando and it's our first opportunity to see Assuncao take a free kick. It's 35 yards out but he is aiming for goal. Unfortunately for Betis, Rivas gets in the way of the shot and it goes over for a goal kick. There has been no real threat from Oliveira or the other Betis players really as Malaga have kept them pinned down in their own half. Melli is the first booking of the game in 44' after hacking down Romero and it's halftime. It's been a quick first half and Malaga must feel that the game is not beyond them, although Betis have only been in Malaga's half half a dozen times and have scored twice.
Half-time Malaga 1 Betis 2
When the teams line up, Miguel Angel is back in the middle and Tote is wide right as Tapia tries to make the break through. Juanito is the first Malaga player in the book after bring down Oliveira in the centre circle after 48'.
In 52' Baiano is still a threat as he creates something out of nothing in the "D" but his shot goes just over. The next minute he outjumps the Betis defence to head a Duda freekick just wide. Tote is causing panic down Betis's left with his strong running and scent for goal. He is continually brought down but the referee waves play on even when Malaga don't have the advantage. In 63' Duda is presented with two clear chances, probably the easiest chances in the whole game, but he panics and puts them both well wide, with only Doblas to beat. This has a section of the crowd urging Tapia to make another substitution and take the little Portuguese winger out of his and our misery. There is a substitution in 64' but it's Baiano off for Wanchope. The 8'6" Costa Rican striker begins winning all the high balls into the area, but he can't direct them into the path of his team-mates and Tote is particularly frustrated, getting into good scoring positions, without the service. However, when he does get the ball, Tote's lack of match practice shows and his shooting is well off the mark.
In 71' Tapia takes off captain Fernando Sanz to bring on another striker, Amoroso. Betis are just now getting out of their half and Tapia clearly believes he does not need four defenders. Amoroso has a good touch and a keen eye for movement around him and he is quickly giving Tote the service he has been looking for. However, Tote is not able to convert the good runs and positioning into a real threat to his erstwhile colleagues.
In 77' Arzu commits a heinous tackle on the dangerous Amoroso which gains him a yellow card. But also, he's injured himself and has to be carried off in a stretcher and is replaced by Benjamin. Gerardo takes the free kick and Doblas makes an excellent save. It is not Malaga's day!
In 87' it's the best chance of all for Tote to open his account for his new team when Gerardo finds him free in the box out on the right. The crowd get to their feet in anticipation but his powerful drive is blocked by Fernandez, who ran back at speed across the path of the shot. We all know that was the last chance to get the draw which is the least that Malaga deserved from the game.
Full time: Malaga 1 Betis 2

Next week it's away to Real Madrid. The next game is after a short break for Easter, when Malaga are at home to the third Madrid team, Getafe, on 9 April. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.