Match Reports

Sunday 24 April 2005: 1900h kick off, sunny, 26C, no wind. Again no Geoff (he has "lost interest") so this week I am accompanied by John, for his first ever Spanish league game.
The league leaders, Barcelona, are in town, hoping to maintain their six point advantage over arch rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table. Last season, when Frank Rijkaard and his boys played here, the home side romped home 5-1, recording their first victory over the Nou Camp giants for 27 years! This season has been very different, with Malaga struggling to find goals and Barca, especially with top scorer Eto'o (21 goals in 32 games), Ronaldinho, Deco, Guily and others all regularly scoring, have 61 goals compared to Malaga's tally of 32 so far.
Malaga return to La Roseleda after two weeks away at Valencia (2-2) and Albecete (1-2), Malaga's goals coming from Baiano (2) and the unlikely source of Duda, also with two. These four points have virtually ensured avoidance of relegation this season (although, it is still mathematically possible, if Malaga lose all their remaining games and, say, Mallorca, win all theirs).
Tapia remains faithful to his normal starting eleven, in the now familiar 4-2-3-1 line-up.
Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau, Gerardo, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce, Juanito and Romero, Juan Rodriguez, Miguel Angel and Duda, Baiano.
Barcelona (4-1-2-2-1): Valdes, Belletti, Puyol, Oleguer and Van Bronkhurst, Iniesta, Xavi and Deco, Guily and Ronaldinho, Eto'o.

Barca win the toss and Malaga kick off defending the Fondo end in bright sunshine. The Catalan team have brought the biggest away support so far this season and La Roseleda is at capacity, even though Malaga raised the ticket prices starting at 100 euros up to 200 euros for non-season ticket holders!
Malaga go straight into attack, looking to unsettle their illustrious visitors with an early goal. After only 20 seconds on the clock, Miguel Angel is brought down in full flight by uncompromising Spanish international centre back and Barca captain, the long-curly-haired Puyol, just outside the left hand corner of the penalty area. Gerardo takes the free kick and picks out Baiano eight yards out. His fine header brings out an excellent save from Valdes. It's all Malaga and in 4' Romero heads just over from a Gerardo long throw from the right.
It's 9' before we see Barca in attack. Eto'o is brought down 35 yards out by Romero. Deco lines up to take the kick, but hits the wall and lands at Ronaldinho's feet. The little Brazilian takes the ball to the touchline to the right of the goal and wins a corner off Fernando Sanz. Cesar deals easily with the resultant corner kick and the danger is over.
In 17' Miguel Angel is again brought down by Puyol, 40 yards out. Gerardo takes the kick and again finds Baiano in the crowded box. The big Brazilian gets his head to it but it's just the wrong side of the post.
The next minute, Juanito (who's considering an offer from Bolton) is booked for obstructing Valdes.
In 20' there is a real panic in the Barca goalmouth as Valdes just beats Miguel Angel to a through ball with the stylish midfielder clear. The Barca goalie takes no chances and hoofs it high into the upper stands.
Then in 23' Barca take the lead against the run of play. Eto'o forces a corner on the right. Deco takes and the ball comes off Cesar and lands at OLEGUER's feet. The big centre half is quick to react and sidefoots the ball past the unsighted Arnau from five yards. It was their first effort on target, in their third attack on goal so far!
Malaga 0 Barcelona 1.
Two minutes later and Valdes has to make another excellent save from Baiano. Juanito slips the ball to him in the centre circle and the striker goes off on a run past three defenders before unleashing a powerful right foot shot from the edge of the box.
In 27' Guily becomes the next player booked for three successive fouls on Duda as the tricky Portuguese winger attempts a run down the left.
In 28' Van Brockhurst (ex Rangers and Arsenal), makes a break down the left wing and whips in a cross which is met by Ronaldinho in the "D". His powerful header comes off the bar with Arnau beaten, but the offside whistle had already gone.
It's back down the other end next minute and after some more Baiano magic in the box he releases Juan Rodriguez with a short pass, but good defending by Puyol takes the ball off his feet before he can pull the trigger.
Barca approach Malaga's goal again in 33' when Ronaldinho is fouled by Juan Rodriguez on the left. He quickly takes the kick himself and finds GUILY's head, as the little winger sneaks past the static Malaga defence, and his brilliant header goes in just inside the near post.
Malaga 0 Barcelona 2
Malaga have been hit with two goals against the run of play, but are not out of this game and continue to press forward. There is a feeling that if they can get one back before half time, it would put a better reflection on their play and unsettle their visitors.
In 40' there is a right stooshie. Gerardo (who seems to have been given free kick duties ahead of Duda) takes a free kick 40 yards out on the left. He attempts an audacious shot at goal which has Valdes scrambling backwards. The big keeper reverses into the post as he attempts to gather the ball and collapses in a heap. He releases the ball, which seems to go over the line, before Oleguer can run back and hook out and out of play on the left touchline. The stretcher bearers run on to attend to the stricken Valdes whilst the Malaga forwards surround the referee and the farside linesman, gesticulating wildly. However, after Valdes recovers, the outcome is a throw-in on the left wing.
Malaga come close again just before half time after Miguel Angel (who seems to have played most of this half on his backside) is again brought down by Puyol. Gerardo's swinging cross finds Juan Rodriguez's head, but the burly striker's finish is just wide of the post.
Half time: Malaga 0 Barcelona 2
There is a scare for Malaga in the first minute after the restart as Ronaldinho sends a clever pass into the feet of Eto'o and the sprightly Cameroonian striker whips in a powerful drive which just flashes past the far post with Arnau watching.
There is a great chance for Malaga to get back into the game in 49' when Miguel Angel finds Duda on his own on the left. The little winger, who has scored in the last two matches, has a go but his shot goes well over.
In 50' Amoroso comes on for Juanito as Malaga add to their attacking options and try and get something from the game.
In 52' Deco, who has had a quiet game, finds Ronaldinho in space. The little magician has a strike at goal but the ball swerves away just at the last moment and shoots past the near post.
In 55' Malaga's movement and passing catch the eye. Juan Rodriguez breaks down the right wing and as he reaches the edge of the box passes square to Amoroso in the "D". The sure footed Brazilian finds his compatriot Baiano with a defence splitting pass into the box but Valdes manages to get a fingertip to the shot and puts it out for a corner. Gerardo sends in an excellent cross and Amoroso gets a good header in from five yards but it skims the top of the bar as it goes just over.
In 59' Eto'o is taken off and substituted by centre back Motta as Rijkaard tries to hold onto the lead.
In 60' Valcarce has a shot at goal from the left wing but it drifts just wide of the far post.
The next minute Romero brings down Xavi just outside the box. It's tailor-made for Ronaldinho but, as we wonder where he is going to place it, he kicks the ball off the wall and the danger is cleared.
In 66' Romero is taken off and replaced by Manu, as Tapia goes for a more attacking line-up. Manu goes out wide on the right wing and Juan Rodriguez moves inside to form a three pronged attack with Baiano and Amoroso.
The next minute, as Malaga reorganise, Ronaldinho slips the ball through for GUILY to run onto down the right wing. The Malaga defence claim offside but the winger continues his run and hits a strong shot past Arnau.
Malaga 0 Barcelona 3
In 68' Barca anchor man Iniesta comes off for Silvinho.
In 70' full back Valcarce is replaced by striker Tote, with Duda slipping back into an overlapping left full back position and Amoroso going wide left. Malaga now have four fully fledged strikers on the park in a very attacking formation.
In 72' Xavi is next to be booked for not retreating 10 yards at a free kick. He is replaced two minutes later by Gerard.
In 75' there is another controversial moment as Puyol and Amoroso chase a ball which goes close to the left corner flag. Puyol just gets there first and Amoroso catches the big defender's ankle as he attempts to get to the ball. The referee has no hesitation and gives the Brazilian a straight red card! Whilst the stretcher bearers attend to the clearly crippled Barca captain, the Malaga players surround the referee, but unlike the last home game, this referee will not change his decision.
Ten man Malaga do not give up and still take the play to the visitor's half. Tote has a great chance to get on the scoresheet after some neat passing between Juan Rodriguez and Baiano, but he seems to get the ball under his feet and the Barca defence clear.
"Crippled" Puyol has to sprint alongside Baiano in 85' to chase a through ball from Miguel Angel, much to the jeers and whistles from the Malaga crowd.
In 89' Deco wins a corner on the left. He passes short to Ronaldinho who sends in a lovely cross to meet the tall substitute Gerard whose header from 12 yards beats Arnau all ends up to finish the scoring and end a miserable day for the goalkeeper, who is interesting Tottenham Hotspur.
Full time Malaga 0 Barcelona 4
Next week away to Levante and then back here against the "Yellow Submarines" of Villarreal. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.