Match Reports

January 23rd 2005: 19:00h kick-off. It's been a terrific week of weather here in the Costa del Sol, really warm sunshine every day - the first local strawberries of the season at the market, in every way it's like spring after the coolness of December. Full moon, full house for the visit of star studded Atletico Madrid, including of course wunderkid Fernando Torres and last season's Malaga hero, Salva, in attack. New signing, Gronkjaer, from Birmingham City, has strengthened an already strong squad, which boasts an all-star midfield of Marcelo Sosa and Frenchman Peter Luccin. Atletico have slipped recently to 10th position (cf Malaga in 18th out of twenty) after an outstanding start and will be looking for a win to get themselves back in contention for a European placing.
New signings on Malaga's horizon: last week saw the transfer of Michel from Real Murcia and the transfer out of Luque to Cuidad de Murcia. The hot gossip though is about the signings of two renowned goalscoring strikers - the former Real Madrid starlet, Tote, from Real Betis, and the Brazilian, Baiano, from Wolfsburg. Hopefully these two players will be on show at the next home match on 06 February against Real Mallorca.
For his second game in charge, new Malaga boss Tapia is unable to field the same starting eleven as last week, because Duda is suspended due to reaching five yellow cards. However, Miguel Angel returns after suspension in an otherwise unchanged team, with Arnau retaining his position in goal. Malaga (4-5-1): Arnau, Gerardo, Cesar Nevas, Fernado Sanz, Valcarce, Edgar, Miguel Angel, Juan Rodriguez, Juanito and Leko, Amoroso.
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Leo Franco, Mollinero, Garcia Calvo, Perea, Antonio Lopez, Ibagaza, Sosa, Luccin, Gronkjaer, Fernando Torres and Salva.
Atletico Madrid are in their usual red and white stripes, with red shorts, whilst Malaga are in their home strip of blue and white stripes with blue shorts.
It's a Sunday night at 7pm, 15C, and the pitch is perfect condition. In a full house, there is a buzz around the stadium and Malaga win the toss electing to play towards the Fondo end (where we sit) in the first half.
The opening exchanges provide no threat on goal and we have to wait until the 4th minute when Leo Franco has to be smart to whip the ball off Amoroso's feet after good work by Edgar on the right wing.
Malaga prove to be more in control in these early moments and Valcarce's run down the left wing ends with a cross which forces a fine save from Leo Franco off Juan Rodriguez's header.
It's 10 minutes before Atletico manage to threaten goal. Gronkjaer makes a run down the left wing and sends in a cross which Arnau has to be alert to with Fernando Torres lurking.
The next minute, Malaga win a free kick 30 yards out on the right. Leko and Miguel Angel stand over the ball with all the big guys in the box waiting. Miguel Angel runs over the ball and Leko sends in a looping shot which Leo Franco is happy to see go just over.
In 14', it's another chance for Malaga from approximately the same position. Again, the training ground practice comes into force with Miguel Angel and Leko over the ball. This time Leko sends in an inviting cross to Amoroso's head which Leo Franco comes to first and punches the ball clear.
Penalty claims from Malaga after 16' when Leko is elbowed to the ground in the box when receiving a neat pass from Edgar, but the referee says play on.
In 18' the first booking of the game and it's Sosa, after bring down Juan Rodriguez in full flight.
The next minute it's another chance for Leko from a free kick outside the box, but Leo Franco makes an excellent save and tips it over. Miguel Angel takes the corner, but Fernando Sanz's header goes just past.
We have to wait until 22' before we see Fernando Torres have a shot on goal. He goes on a run, and with his quick feet gets past three defenders, but his shot is so high it almost makes the upper tier and has the occupants of Row Z scrambling for cover.
The second booking is in 30' when Gronkjaer is brought down by Gerardo.
Malaga have another chance in 33' when Gerardo's long throw finds Amoroso with his back to goal. The tricky Brazilian tries an overhead kick, but just fails to connect and the danger to the visitor's defence is cleared.
Perea brings down Juan Rodriguez near the left corner post and Leko's free is headed wide by giant centre back Cesar Nevas.
In 36' Fernando Torres wins another free kick about 30 yards out. Peter Luccin takes the kick after much toing and froing in the wall with three Atletico players trying to push their Malaga counterparts away from the line of the shot. However, Luccin's shot goes so wide it almost goes out for a throw.
In 40', another booking - this time it's Gronkjaer for off the ball comments to the referee.
Malaga are seeking the opening just before half time and when Perea handballs just outside the area, it's a chance for Juan Rodriguez, but his effort hits the wall and the danger has passed.

Half-time Malaga 0-0 Atletico Madrid

It's Atletico who start the brightest and from the kick-off, Gronkjaer takes the ball down the right to the touchline. With nobody in support, he tries a banana shot which just goes wide of the far post while Arnau can only watch and pray.
The next minute, Miguel Angel finds himself booked for a studs up challenge on Luccin on the centreline.
It's still Atletico pulling the strings and Antonio Lopez wins a corner after a run down the left wing. He takes the corner himself and Arnau has to make a good save from Fernando Torres's header.
After 50' Malaga form their first attack of the half. After some slick interpassing, Amoroso is brought down and Miguel Angel's effort is just wide.
In 60' Juan Rodriguez joins the names in the referee's book after a foul on Luccin.
A double substitution for Malaga after 61'. Amoroso comes off for Wanchope and Leko makes way for Michel, making his debut for his new club.
Atletico also make a change in 63' when Sosa is replaced by the towering Nano.
A fright for Malaga in the 64' when Fernando Torres finds the net with Arnau well beaten. The referee is pointing to the centre spot, but the linesman has his flag up for offside and the goal is disallowed.
In 67' Wanchope wins a corner after some harrying play down the left, but Miguel Angel's corner poses no danger to the Atletico defence, which has coped with everything Malaga has had to offer so far. Likewise Malaga's strong men in the middle, Fernando Sanz and Cesar Nevas have snuffed out the threat from Fernando Torres and Salva.
In fact, the first time we see Salva in the game is after 69'. We know from last year that he can be apparently quiet in a game then appear out of nowhere and score a goal, so it's no surprise really when we've had to wait so long to see a glimpse of the threat posed by our former hero. He slips in behind Fernando Sanz for the first time in the game and gets in a powerful shot which Arnau palms away. Then, it's goodbye Salva as he is substituted for Colsa to warm and affectionate applause from the home support.
In 73' Juanito goes down in a heap after a disputed tackle with Nano, who is a big and awkward sort of a player. Juanito has to be helped off by the physios for further treatment. Nano, meanwhile is fit enough to take the freekick awarded by the referee. His screamer demands much of Arnau but the Malaga Keeper makes a great diving save to keep the ball out.
Juanito returns limping heavily to the fray, perhaps hoping to run the injury off, but within two seconds of his return he is crunched to the ground by Luccin and has to be replaced by Romero, the Uruguayan making a return from injury after several weeks out of action.
In 78' Romero brings down Fernando Torres as the game continues with neither side seeming likely to make the breakthrough. Colsa, another giant centre forward, steps up to take the kick and his crashing shot beats Arnau, but comes off the inside of the far post and across the goalmouth. Whew - that was close.
In the 80' minute it's Colsa again and the Malaga goalkeeper has to make an excellent diving save to keep the ball out. Arnau collects the ball and sends it high and long into Atletico's half. The ball is only half cleared and falls to JUAN RODRIGUEZ, who finds himself in the clear. The burly midfielder/striker does not think twice and blasts the ball low into the near corner of the net from 30 yards.
Malaga 1 Atletico 0.
The crowd go wild. Geoff does an interesting dance up and down the aisle. The scoreboard erupts into a colourful display of "GOL" "GOL" and loud triumphant music blasts from the public address system, long after the restart.
Atletico are stunned and Malaga have a great chance to go two up when after a fine run by Wanchope in 84', the lanky Costa Rican cuts the ball back to Michel. The debutant is fouled in the box and the referee points to the spot! Penalty! Goal hero Juan Rodriguez steps up and takes a shot low the goalkeeper's left post. However, Leo Franco guesses correctly and makes a great save.
The final six minutes are played under a cacophony of whistles from the crowd as they try to convince the referee that he should blow for full-time any time he wished. Atletico did try to find their way through for an equaliser and it was a great relief when the referee did eventually blow for the last time.

Full-time Malaga 1 Atletico 0

A great result for Antonio Tapia's men - two wins on the trot for the new boss against teams in the league's top ten clubs. This result means that Malaga end the day out of the relegation zone, three places higher than this morning. An excellent game to watch, an excellent result. Away to Real Zaragoza next week, with another opportunity to gain some points before the next home game against bottom club, Real Mallorca.
Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!