Match Reports

Over a number of seasons in Spain, four teams have emerged as the strongest and most consistent, winning the League Championship and featuring in the Champion's League - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Deportivo.
The team from La Coruna, a busy port way up in the north western extremity of the country, where the Bay of Biscay meets the Atlantic Ocean and which must represent one of the longest journeys between teams in La Liga, has had a settled side for many years, rare in football these days. Many of their players, including their manager, Irureta, have been around for a long time, including the former Brazilian international, Mauro Silva, who at 37 is still turning out world class performances. Also in their team, there are four current Spanish internationals in Sergio, Victor, Valeron and Luque, with the Uruguayan striker, Pandiani, their top scorer so far this season and since replacing Roy Maakay, when he left for Bayern Munich. Also impressing this season is their right back and captain, Manuel Pablo, whose pace and tackling shone like a beacon in Deportivo's midweek Champion's League match at Anfield against Liverpool. Formidable opponents then, whom Malaga have not beaten since season '99-'00. Irureta is reportedly interested in signing Malaga's centreback, Juanito, but the Malaga-born player looks set to sign a three year deal with his home town team in the coming weeks.
Malaga's last game was away to Athletic Bilboa, which they lost 1-0 to a goal conceded early in the first half from a well taken free kick from Yeste, which was deflected past Calatayud. Injuries to Giejo and Amoroso (although the Brazilian is hopeful for a return to the team in time for next week's game away to Betis) meant that Wanchope was up front on his own and he scored what proved to be a good goal from video evidence. The referee gave it, pointing to the centre spot, only for the farside assistant to flag that the goal should be disallowed as Wanchope had barged the goalkeeper. The referee then cancelled the goal and awarded a free kick instead. However, the replay showed that the ball was already over the goal line before Wanchope made contact with the keeper in his follow-through. A sare one!
Malaga's line-up was an unusual (for them) 4-5-1 formation, including Romero as "anchor" in front of the back four and Leko supporting Wanchope in attack, in a more advanced role for the Croatian midfielder. Team: Calatayud, Gerardo, Fernando Sanz, Juanito, Valcarce, Edgar, Miguel Angel, Romero, Leko, Duda and Wanchope.
Deportivo play 4-2-3-1 Team: Molina, Pablo, Andrade, Cesar, Capdevilla, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Victor, Valeron, Luque and Pandiani.
Malaga kick off in perfect conditions for football. It's 8 o'clock on a Saturday evening in late October and it's 25C and no appreciable wind. From the start the home side look lively with good passing movements from the three central midfielders, Romero, Leko and Miguel Angel causing Deportivo concern. A telling pass from Miguel Angel from the right wing found Leko in the "D" in only six minutes. There was a groan from the crowd as Leko elected to pass the ball to WANCHOPE instead of taking a shot himself, but the Costa Rican international, who recently scored a hat-trick for his country against Canada, made no mistake from six yards. 1-0.
Deportivo were playing high up the field, operating the offside trap successfully and were closing down very quickly every time a Malaga player was on the ball. From very early on in the game it was clear that their main threat up front was to be through the pace and skill of Luque on the left wing and in 11 minutes the winger came close with a rasping shot which Calatayud was happy to see go wide.
In 16 minutes, Wanchope received a ball from Romero just inside Deportivo's half and started a run through the inside right channel. He is a tall player and looks slightly ungainly, but he has good feet and excellent control and he swept past four defenders before releasing the ball to Leko, again lurking in the "D". This time he elected to shoot with great effect as the ball crashed into the net. But our celebrations were short-lived as the referee had already blown for offside.
Malaga were enjoying the best of the play at this time, with Romero running the show in midfield from his position in front of the defence, spraying long and short accurate passes to his more advanced team mates.
In 24 minutes, Fernando Sanz became the first booking of the game for a foul on Luque, as the game became bogged down in midfield. With both defences pushing up, there were 20 players around the centre circle at times. Sanz will miss next week's match at Betis after reaching five cards so far this season.
In 34 minutes, Edgar's pace, from a Miguel Angel pass, brought him into a shooting position, but he hit the side netting.
All Malaga's forward moves were going down the right flank as Manuel Pablo stifled the threat from Duda down Malaga's left.
In 38 minutes, Duda took a free kick from the left wing. Instead of putting the ball into the crowded penalty area, he elected to hook the ball back to Gerardo, standing alone about 25 yards out, in what looked like a training round ploy. However, Gerardo's effort was high and wide.
In 40 minutes, Miguel Angel conceded a free kick for a foul on the impressive Luque 30 yards from goal, as Deportivo sought the equaliser. Luque's direct free kick beat the wall but Calatayud was well placed to make the save.
In a similar position, two minutes later, Valcarce conceded a free-kick, but this time Luque's effort soared over the bar.
Half time Malaga 1 Deportivo 0
Malaga started brightly on the resumption with good runs from Miguel Angel and Leko providing openings up front and exposing the Deportivo defence, but no danger to the goal.
In 51 minutes, Miguel Angel was the second Malaga player to be booked for a foul on Luque after being wrong-footed by a pass from Valcarce got him in a fankle.
In 54 minutes, Romero intercepted a through ball and made the short pass to Leko whose strong run through the middle caused some panic in the Deportivo defence. He passed it out to Edgar on the right wing whose strong cross was met well by Miguel Angel's head and goalkeeper Molina needed two attempts to bring the ball down and smother it.
In 56 minutes, Gerardo was booked for a foul on Luque, wrapping his arms around the winger and stopping his progress when in full flight.
Two minutes later, a great chance for Malaga as Leko finds Wanchope in space. The big striker broke through to be one on one with Molina but his carefully placed shot went inches wide of the far post.
In 62 minutes, Romero became the next Malaga man booked, for a foul on .......... Luque!
With Malaga on top and Deportivo struggling to make an impression up front, Irureta brought on veteran striker Fran for centre back Cesar.
In 68 minutes, for the first time in the game, Duda eludes Manuel Pablo down the left and his cross was met by Miguel Angel in the clear. His powerful shot had Molina well beaten but the ball came crashing back off the crossbar.
In 69 minutes, Rodriguez was brought on for Leko as a straight replacement in midfield.
In 72 minutes, Wanchope should have tied things up for Malaga when Edgar's right wing cross presented him with a free header. His effort again went wide though and the lanky striker put his head in his hands as he knew he should at least have been on target.
A minute later Irureta again signalled his intent by bringing on out of form striker Tristan for full back Capdevilla. Duda was replaced by Malaga's Luque at the same time.
Then in 80 minutes, the tiring Wanchope, alone in attack for Malaga, was replaced by right winger Manu, forcing the home team to make a number of positional changes with Edgar taking up the striker's role in the centre.
But the old master Irureta's changes to Deportivo were more telling as they came more into the game and started to threaten again and again. In 80 minutes the impressive Valeron was just wide after a superb run from another attacking substitute, right winger Munitis, who had come on for Victor.
Malaga's Luque became his side's fifth booking for a foul on Tristan as the big striker was making an impact up front. From the free kick, Tristan's effort hit the side netting when we all thought it was in.
Then in 85 minutes, Deportivo's pressure paid off as TRISTAN's head met a Valeron cross at the far post which Calatayud looked to have got a hand to, but to no avail.
1-1
Deportivo went all out for the winner as Malaga looked tired. In 87 minutes the dangerous Tristan came close again with another header from a pass from Luque on the left.
In the last minute, Manu was dispossessed in the Deportivo penalty box, who swung quickly into counter attack, ending with a Luque shot across the goal which we were all grateful to see go wide.
Full time Malaga 1 Deportivo 1
A draw probably a fair result in a game that could have gone either way.
Next week Malaga are away to local rivals Real Betis in Sevilla, for which we intend to make the two hour journey with my son, Denis, who arrives in Spain on Thursday for short holiday.
The next home game is on weekending 6/7 November against Real Madrid.
Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.