Match Reports

Football is an emotive sport, both for those playing and those watching. It's not often I get angry, but I have had to wait a day to let my anger subside after Sunday night's match against the surprise team of the season and co-league leaders with Barcelona, Osasuna. More of this later.

Back to last week when Malaga visited Madrid to play Getafe, also enjoying themselves in the top half of the league this season. Malaga were without the suspended left back Valcarce and Tapia in his wisdom fielded very right footed Gerardo in his position. Tapia is not one for change in personnel, likes his favourites, and just shuffles them around rather than introduce other "squad" members. Last week he opted for his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation, as follows: Arnau; Alexis, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Gerardo; Juan Rodriguez and Anderson; Edgar, Hidalgo and Nacho; Salva.
It seemed to work when Malaga took the lead after 24 minutes with a goal from Edgar, but Getafe replied a minute later to restore parity at 1-1, when Gerardo was caught wrong footed by their right winger who slung in a cross that was converted easily by their striker. Just before half time, a carbon copy goal gave Getafe a half time lead at 2-1.
Just after halftime and Malaga equalised through Nacho. Malaga seemed to have the upper hand and went looking for the winner. However Gerardo lost possession in the last five minutes and Getafe scored again to take all three points at 3-2.

For this week's game, Malaga are suffering a bit of an injury crisis, especially up front where Salva, Morales and Counago are all out. Valcarce returns after suspension so Tapia is forced to make several changes to his line-up for this very tough match. He opts for 4-4-1-1 formation with Hidalgo playing off Paco Estaban, who gets his first start of the season, having previously only appeared as a substitute.
Malaga (4-4-1-1): Arnau; Alexis, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Edgar, Juan Rodriguez, Gerardo and Nacho; Hidalgo; Paco Estaban.
Osasuna, who come from Pamplona in the Pyrenees (famous for the bull runs through the town every July, you've heard of that) have not beaten Malaga at La Roseleda for 17 years. Also, in their last encounter in Pamplona last season, Malaga ran out 6-1 winners. So, their Mexican manager, Javier Aguirre, had scores to settle with this year's highflying squad. He also opts for the 4-4-1-1 system, with Serbian International Milosevic (yes the former Aston Villa man from years ago) playing off the giant African striker, Webo.
Osasuna (4-4-1-1): Elias; Flano, Cuellar, Josetxo and Cruchaga; Valdo, Punal, Raul Garcia and Moha; Milosevic; Webo.

Malaga's line-up causes a few raised eyebrows when the team is announced, more so for the substitutes including several Malaga B players making their debuts in the Malaga first team squad, including Diego Castro, Jesus Gamez and Ador. Malaga B are also playing today and must have struggled with so many of their regulars missing (they drew 1-1 away to Recreativo, so they didn't do too badly).
Malaga win the toss and choose to defend the Gol end with Osasuna defending the Fondo (where we sit).
It's all Osasuna from the kick off. From the first minute they start to impress and we realise that this team are the best we've seen here (in opposition) so far this season. They're quick, first to the ball, challenging all over the park and always seems to have a backup man to cover for the second ball.
The first attempt at goal is from centre back Josetxo near the half way line, when the ball is cleared from the Malaga defence straight to him after 4' and he attempts an outrageous volley which Arnau had to watch very closely.
Milosevic seems very energetic and chasing everything and causes Malaga some discomfort in 7' when he intercepts a short pass back to Arnau from Cesar. However, Malaga's Captain Fantastic, Fernando Sanz, recovers the situation to give away the corner, when really there should have been no threat.
There is again some more worry as Cesar brings down Milosevic in 13' as Malaga are failing to get a grip of this up-tempo, slick passing hi-nrg team. The lively Moroccan Moha takes the free kick but he puts it well over.
The first Malaga attack providing any sort of goal threat is in 14'. Juan Rodriguez sends a delightful through ball right down the middle to Hidalgo. Elias rushes out from his goal and gets there first but can only blast the ball against Nacho, who is providing support. The ball comes off Nacho towards the empty goal but unfortunately goes wide of the post.
In 16' the up-till-now anonymous Edgar forces a corner on the right but Gerardo's kick is headed clear by Milosevic, who seems to pop up everywhere.
With Osasuna in control, Tapia changes the formation after 20' to his favourite 4-2-3-1 system, with Juan Rodriguez and Gerardo sitting in front of the defenders to provide a bit more cover in defence.
It's still Osasuna who continue to press and Raul Garcia goes close in 21' with a snap shot from 30 metres which has Arnau at full stretch.
Webo is causing the Malaga defence all sorts of bother. He's a big man but also very quick and nimble on his feet. In 22' he takes the ball off Cesar who was dithering with the ball looking for an opening. WEBO runs on one on one with Arnau and as the goalkeeper advances, the big striker sends it past the keeper and into the net at the far post.
Malaga 0 Osasuna 1
It's no more than the visitors deserved after all their pressure and they're making Malaga look very ordinary.
The next minute Webo almost makes it two when he is on the end of a through ball into the box, but as he attempts to head the ball down Arnau manages to position himself for any easy catch.
Osasuna are not letting up and Milosevic goes very close in 25' with a left footed volley just over the bar.
In 26' Alexis's name goes into the ref's book for a foul on Moha in front of the Osasuna bench. They, to a man, are all on their feet protesting to the referee, but the card is yellow.
Osasuna seem to have pace all through their team as Malaga's pacy players, particularly Edgar and Paco Estaban, are finding out. Hidalgo sends a lovely ball into space down the left wing in 29' for which you would normally expect Paco Estaban to be the winner. He and Flano run side by side for seems like a 100m sprint for the ball which has been placed over the defence's heads and into clear space down the wing. The full back has just the better of the striker and ball is put out for a throw.
For the first time in the game we are on our feet in anticipation in 31' as Hidalgo flights another ball over the Osasuna defence who are playing high up the field. This time it's down the right wing and Edgar is free. He gets to the by-line and sends in his cross but the ball eludes everybody and drifts out for a goal kick.
The next minute, Paco Estaban has his first shot at goal as Malaga at last seem to be getting more possession. The pacy striker's lob though is too high and goes over.
In 34' Malaga keep up the pressure and when Hidalgo is brought down just outside the "D" it's a chance for a set piece. However, Gerardo's effort hits the wall.
In 35' Malaga are maintaining the pressure in the Osasuna half and the unlikely figure of Alexis is the man in the box on the end of a chipped pass from Juan Rodriguez. Josetxo makes a terrific intervention to knock the ball out for a corner. Gerardo finds Paco Estaban with the resultant kick, but the whistle goes as he is adjudged to have used a hand.
In 37' Malaga keep up the pressure. Juan Rodriguez slips a lovely ball through for Paco Estaban to run onto in the box. We're back on our feet as the striker is in the clear and seems to have time to shoot. However, he elects to send a square pass across the 6 yard line. There are three defenders and the goalkeeper between Paco Estaban and NACHO, but the pass is true and the little winger makes no mistake.
Malaga 1 Osasuna 1
We are thinking what a great game this is. Malaga have battled themselves back into the game against a team who at one point we thought were going to completely overrun them and get the perfect revenge for last season's 6-1 drubbing. We were just settling ourselves back in our seats when Malaga are caught in a sucker pincer movement by Osasuna. From the kick off Moha, who seems to have a free role, makes a run down the right. As Malaga are furiously back peddling, the little winger sends in a perfect pass onto the head of the onrushing VALDO at the far left hand post. His header goes in at the near post with Arnau completely beaten for Osasuna to restore their lead.

Half time: Malaga 1 Osasuna 2

After the break, it's Malaga who are first to show when in 47' Edgar knocks a ball through for Paco Estaban to chase and Elias has to come outside his penalty box to head the ball to safety.
The game thereafter develops into a farce. Yes, after only two minutes into the half, Osasuna's tactics become clear. They are going to hang on to their lead and frustrate Malaga and their fans for the whole of the second half. This they do by time wasting at Olympic standards. For example, when the ball goes out for a throw on the left, the right back has to walk across from the other side to take the throw. Similarly for corners. If it is on the right, the left back takes it, walking from the other end of the park. In every tackle, the Osasuna man goes down like he's mortally wounded, requiring the game to be held up for several minutes while he gets "attention". It's a shame, because the first half was an excellent football match and Osasuna seemed to be too good a team to resort to these sort of tactics. But I think they had burnt themselves out in the first half, where they were so up-tempo and they didn't leave enough gas for the second half. The referee? Well he seemed to be in on the act, as every tackle resulted in a free kick to Osasuna and treatment necessary for the player "brought down". It was gamesmanship at it's worst and they were getting away with it.
In 54' Tapia made a double substitution. Off came the ineffective Edgar and more surprisingly, centre half and captain Fernando Sanz. On came Diego Castro (the little Argentinean has been making a name for himself since joining Malaga B in the summer) to slot into the right wing position. Also on was Jesus Gamez, who came on to play right back. So Malaga went to a three at the back, five across the middle with two up front. Alexis went into the centre of defence and Valcarce moved up field into the left winger's position. Hidalgo joined Paco Estaban in attack. Very radical change, but Tapia could see that Malaga were being stifled in midfield and Osasuna's new tactics meant that their strikers were not really posing any threat as the team plan seemed to be to put the ball out of play and waste time as much as possible.
In 56' there is a strong claim for a penalty as Paco Estaban is manhandled off the ball in the box whilst Hidalgo was floating in a freekick. I have told you in the past about Spanish TV coverage. Every such event is shown from every possible angle over and over again. On Canal 2 they have a panel of six in the studio and every one agreed that it was a penalty. The one who did not agree was our friend the referee. He gives a corner instead. Malaga force three corners in succession and Cesar came closest with a header. The nine feet six giant, however, put his effort straight at Elias and the pressure on Osasuna was relieved.
On a rare excursion into the Malaga half, Moha, who had been a thorn in Malaga's side in the first half, was first booked for a cynical foul on Alexis (retribution?) then, the other side of him, he sends in a dangerous cross across the goalmouth, which beat the Malaga defence and Arnau and fell to Milosevic inside the 6 yard box. The Serb is looking into the empty goal but is caught by surprise when the ball comes to him and he somehow put it wide.
In 66' with Webo at the furthest corner from the dugouts, he is substituted for Munoz, a midfielder. Webo walks off at a snail's pace to loud jeers from the crowd. Several minutes later, the substitution is completed. No action is taken by the referee. The free kicks now being awarded to Osasuna every minute are a disgrace to refereeing and succeed in frustrating the Malaga team but also spoilt the spectacle of the game as the flow was nonexistent, especially as Osasuna were content to take maximum advantage to waste more time.
In 72' Milosevic, who is looking very tired, goes down as Gerardo takes the ball cleanly from him. Gerardo is booked for dissent when the referee awards another free kick.
In 74' Tapia takes off Valcarce for Ador. Nacho reverts to left wing and Hidalgo drops back to midfield to allow the young hot prospect striker to join Paco Estaban up front, as Tapia tries to change things in Malaga's favour.
In 76' Hidalgo wins a blatant freekick, when he is hacked down on the right wing, for which the referee is treated to ironic cheers from the crowd, as it is the first award to Malaga for some time and even he couldn't have awarded it the other way. Hidalgo takes the kick himself and Cesar gets onto the end of it, but his header is straight at Elias.
Osasuna look completely bereft of energy and take the time wasting tactic to new levels. Moha is taken off for defender Sosa in 80' as they try to hang on to their lead.
Malaga almost get the equaliser they and Osasuna deserve in 81'. Hidalgo swings in a corner to the near post to Paco Estaban. The striker's shot beats Elias but strikes a defender on the line. The ball then strikes another defender on the line, with neither of them aware of what was happening before the ball is hoofed anywhere up the park by Milosevic, back defending in his own six yard box.
The sense of frustration from the crowd is reaching dangerous proportions as Osasuna continue their time wasting to the extreme at every throw in and free kick and they are awarded plenty.
Substitutions also take at least three minutes each as the player taken off strolls from the ground to the whistles and jeers from the crowd.
Then in 89' the fourth official puts up his board to indicate the stoppage time to be added on - 3 minutes. It's just beyond belief! And a minute later - the referee blows for full time.
Full time Malaga 1 Osasuna 2

A game of two halves. The first, all that is best about Spanish football, a real contest between two good footballing teams, with plenty of skill, good movement, pace, passing and technique on display. The second half? A terrible spectacle and one which neither the referee or Osasuna should feel any pride about. We left the ground feeling that we had been robbed of an excellent football match. We were really looking forward to the second half and it was literally spoiled by the visitor's tactics.

Next week, Malaga are at home again in a 7pm Sunday kick off against Real Madrid, always a highlight of any season. This match has added significance with the sacking yesterday of Luxembourgo as Madrid's manager after a poor first half to the season, by their standards. Also Beckham will not be playing here next week (for the second season in a row) after his sending off against Getafe on Saturday night. So another compelling and interesting match in prospect as we try to put thoughts of Osasuna's display behind us. How will Malaga get on against the mighty "Blancos" from the capital? Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!