Match Reports

Wednesday 21 December 2005, 2000h kick-off, it’s 16C and the last game of the year before the Christmas break. The next game is away to Sevilla on 8 January 2006, so it’s very important for Malaga to get a good result here at home. Malaga are short of players for this important game, after the debacle in Santander on Sunday, when during the 1-1 draw with Racing, the referee saw fit to send off five players, three from the home side and Anderson and Gerardo from Malaga, who all face an automatic one game suspension. Juan Rodriguez also suffered an injury during that game and is unfit to face the Yellow Submarines.  With Miguel Angel and Juanito transferred at the beginning of the season, Romero out injured since the first game and now a further three midfielders out, it was going to be a makeshift side that Antonio Tapia would be putting out. New signing Bovio arrives from Brazil on 2 January 2006, but Tapia will be using the upcoming transfer window to bolster his side as they go into the second half of the season.
Villarreal on the other hand are enjoying their most successful period in their history. Their squad is fully fit and have successfully negotiated the first part of the Champion’s League and enter the knock out part of the competition in the New Year. They currently lie in fourth position in La Liga and are well organised, fit and quick on the counter attack. Chilean Manager, Manual Pellegrini has filled his team with South American superstars, including Riquelme, Forlan, Senna and young Argentinean goalkeeper Viera, who was wanted by Arsenal before he signed for the Yellow Subs.
Malaga are forced to field two Malaga B players to make up tonight’s team, full back Jesus Gamez and midfielder Usero. So centre back Alexis, who has played all season at right back, is pushed forward into midfield to play alongside Usero in front of the back four, as Tapia names a 4-2-3-1 line-up: Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Alexis and Usero; Edgar, Hidalgo and Nacho; Salva.
Villarreal play a more orthodox 4-4-2 and lined up as follows: Villarreal (4-4-2): Viera; Kromkamp, Gonzalo, Pena and Arruabarrena; Riquelme, Josico, Senna and Font; Jose Mari and Forlan.
 
We’ve had a very pleasant evening so far. With John and Geoff off to England for the Christmas festivities, they’ve given their tickets to Pauline and Helen, so the four of us, including me and Barry, went into Malaga city to see the fantastic Christmas lights (some say they are better this year than Oxford Street in London). The city is buzzing, it’s the Wednesday before Christmas and shops are open late and it’s almost a shame to leave but there is a football match on so we made our way to La Roseleda.
The blue and white striped team from Malaga win the toss and elect to play into the Fondo goal and are first to show when the fleet footed Edgar is tripped on the edge of the box in the first minute. Hidalgo has a go but Viera makes the save look easy.
In 4’ Malaga have as good a chance as they have had in many a game. Edgar has the beating of Arruabarrena and bursts into the box. His shot is parried down by Viera but only to Salva who is chasing behind. Salva has plenty of time but elects for power and blasts the ball well over.
It’s all Malaga as Villarreal have not been allowed to settle. In 5’ Kromkamp becomes the first booking for a foul on Usero.
In 10’ Alexis is penalised for a challenge on Riquelme in a dangerous position 20 yards out. The Argentinean playmaker takes the kick himself and sends in a delightful cross for Gonzalo’s head, but his effort goes well wide.
Font is next to show in 14’ with a run down the wing. He finds Riquelme with his low pass and the subsequent shot is just wide of Arnau’s far post.
Villarreal are gifted a chance in 20’ when a poor clearance from Alexis lands at Riquleme’s feet. His first time half volley has Arnau at full stretch across his goal to tip around for a corner. The set piece comes to nothing though as Gonzalo is tugging a shirt that results in him becoming the second booking of the game.
Villarreal are now in control of the game with Riquelme involved in everything. In 23’ he flights a through ball for Forlan to run onto. The blond Uruguayan strikes hard and low which Arnau can only push out. It falls to Font, but his shot is straight at the goalkeeper and Arnau is able to gather the ball to his chest.
Villarreal are looking good at this point, strong and fast and always dangerous with their slick passing and movement.
Malaga try to get back into the game and Hidalgo tries a half hearted shot from well out to try and change things, but it’s high and well wide.
Some good play between Edgar, Jesus Gamez and Usero finds the latter forcing a corner. But it’s the ubiquitous Riquelme who pops up to hoof the ball clear from Hidalgo’s kick.
In 29’ Edgar, who’s having a good game on the right wing finds Salva in the box. The big striker tries to feed Hidalgo but the attacking midfielder is beaten to the ball by the out rushing Viera.
The game is swinging from end to end but it’s 35’ before the next attempt at goal. This time Senna tries from 30 yards but his dipping shot skims the top of the bar and goes over.
The next minute Edgar gets in another fine cross for Salva but Hidalgo is offside. Villarreal employ the offside trap very well, even given Edgar’s pace and ability to get to the by-line. The linesman’s flag arm is kept busy as time and again Malaga’s forwards are deemed to be offside. This must be very frustrating for the players as well as us in the stands, because Malaga had very many promising moves stopped in full flow by the linesman’s flag.
In 39’ Alexis finds himself in space in the midfield and with everybody waiting for the pass he tries a shot on goal, but it goes straight to the keeper.
In 40’ Usero becomes Malaga’s first booking for tugging Riquelme’s shirt. The number 8 takes it himself but his attempt on goal is easily caught by Arnau.
 
Halftime Malaga 0 Villarreal 0
 
When Malaga reappear, Usero has been substituted by Morales and Malaga go to a 4-4-2 line-up with the giant Uruguayan up alongside Salva. In the first tackle of the game, Jesus Gamez gets booked for a foul on Font.
Just as Villarreal seem to be making some headway down their left wing, Jesus Gamez intercepts a pass and bursts into the centre circle. He looks up to see Morales starting a run and sends a delightful pass into the path of the striker. He is an awesome sight in full flight, with good feet for such a big man and as he goes into the box Morales is brought down by Pena. No penalty, says the referee, prompting jeers and whistles from the home crowd.
In 49’ Villarreal make a change with Anzo coming on for Josico.
In 50’ Morales, who’s made a big impact since he came on, intercepts a pass in the centre circle and finds Edgar wide on the right. Pena moves across and brings down the Angolan. Hidalgo takes the free kick and attempts a shot but Viera punches clear.
In 53’ Morales who seems to be in the thick of everything again wins the ball in midfield. This time he finds Nacho wide on the left. The little winger rushes into the box where he is body checked by Gonzalo. No penalty says the referee, resulting in more jeers, whistles and a nice song about the referee’s mother and lack of legitimate father.
Morales giant presence and agility are causing Villarreal problems and in 56’ he again wins the ball and slips a through ball for Edgar, who runs into the box. Again the Malaga man goes down in the box; again there is an appeal for a penalty. The referee has had enough of this and produces a yellow card. Salva runs across to the referee who turns around to show him the card too. But Salva isn’t complaining to the referee, he was just trying to draw his attention to the linesman on the nearside who is flagging furiously. The referee and fifteen players go across to speak to the linesman. After some debate and a minor melee, the referee points to the penalty spot! It’s only the second penalty awarded so far this season. The first was in the first home game of the season against Espanyol when Gerardo scored. This time it’s Salva who steps up. Salva had an impressive record from the spot in his first stint at Malaga, but he doesn’t seem too confident as he steps up to take this kick. The crowd sense this and go strangely silent. It’s all bad as Salva’s weak attempt goes straight into Viera’s arms.
In 59’ Nacho, who has had a quiet game so far, comes to life on the left and ends his run with a shot that has Viera scrambling across his goal to save.
In 65’ Salva and Morales combine well in the middle of the half and again find Nacho on the left wing. The winger is brought down by Kromkamp. Hidalgo hits the free kick hard at goal and Viera brings off a fantastic save and tips it over.
In 73’ Morales bullies the Villarreal midfield again, winning the ball by his sheer presence. He again finds Nacho willing to take on the all yellow kitted team’s defence. His first shot is parried right back to him by Viera. His second shot produces another fine save from the young goalkeeper as he puts it over the bar.
In 76’ striker Lucho comes on for Font, as Villarreal try to get back into the game.
Malaga are in control and are going all out to get the goal which they deserve and which would surely win the game for them.
In 80’ Hidalgo’s pass finds Edgar on the left wing. The right winger hits his cross too hard and Morales has to chase it out to the right touchline and manages to force a corner off Arrbuarrena.
In 81’ centre back Gonzola is replaced by attacking midfielder Roger, as Villarreal think they can still snatch a win. Paco Estaban comes on for the tiring Salva.
In 83’ captain Fernando Sanz, who has strolled through the game up until this point, is outpaced by Riquelme and is booked for tugging at his shirt.
In 84’ Diego Forlan, who has been kept quiet by Fernando Sanz and the towering presence of 9’3” Cesar all game, finally gets a shot at goal. It’s a close shave for Malaga as it is only just wide of the far post.
In 86’ Morales has the chance to make a claim for a regular place in the team when he rises above the Villarreal defenders to meet Nacho’s cross, but Viera is on great form and saves brilliantly to deny the huge Uruguayan.
On 90’ our hearts are in our mouths when Riquelme makes space for a shot, but Arnau saves comfortably at the near post.
Full time Malaga 0 Villarreal 0
 
It was a good game, with two good footballing teams providing excellent entertainment. Unfortunately for Malaga, despite their makeshift team, they were unable to convert their overall superiority into goals and a win they so desperately need to avoid descending into the dreaded relegation zone. We now have to wait until 15 January 2006 for the next home game, which will be a second consecutive derby (after the game away to Sevilla on the 8th) against newcomers Cadiz, who incidentally also play in all yellow and also have the nickname Yellow Submarines. We may have some new faces on board by then, certainly Bovio, so your Malaga CF Correspondent is looking forward to the game already.
In the meantime, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.