Match Reports

Before I tell you about Saturday night's match, let us go back one week to the away game against Espanyol, up in the Olimpic Stadium in Barcelona. I listened to this game live on the English speaking radio station, Spectrum FM, and it was clear that unless Malaga got a result against the Catalans, manager Antonio Tapia would be sacked.
You can imagine what I felt like (and what he felt like) when before half an hour had gone in the game, Malaga were down 3-0 (it should have been four as Arnau saved a penalty in 22 minutes against Tamudo). Although Malaga did score a consolation goal from the unlikely source of Alexis, with a fantastic 40 metre volley, the final result and defeat of 3-1 plunged Malaga to bottom place in La Liga, after going eight games without a win. This is my third season as a season ticket holder and Malaga have never before occupied one of the three relegation spots, let alone been bottom.
Sure enough, on Monday morning, Tapia left the club and a new manager was appointed right away - Manolo Ruiz Hierro, elder brother to former Real Madrid and Spain legend Fernando, who incidentally has just announced his retirement from playing with Bolton Wanderers. Manolo did have 12 years playing at the top level in Spain, including a stint at Barcelona, and was well known for his never say die attitude, ceaseless running and work ethic as an old fashioned centre forward. However, he has never managed a team at any level, so why did Malaga appoint him? Well, he is currently General Manager at Malaga, responsible for arranging contracts and signing new players etc, so he is well known to all the staff and players. He is also has a very positive attitude and is likely to be a good motivator for the team, whose heads are down after the previous weeks' results. In his press interview he said that he wanted his players to enjoy playing again, that Malaga would not be relegated this season and that he would adopt attacking tactics in every game (unusual in Spain as most teams sit back in defence and rely heavily on swift counter-attacking). The Spanish media wanted to know if he would play with two strikers, play Alexis in the centre of defence, rather than right back, what about cover for the still injured left back Valcarce, what about Duda, what about Manu?
His response was for people to wait and see what his formation was against Athletic Bilboa; Jorge Ribiero, 24 year old Portuguese international left back, has been signed from Moscow Dinamo on the last day of the transfer window; no change on Duda; and Manu has been told that he is in Hierro's plans. Also, Paco Esteban has been loaned to Cuidad de Murcia until the end of the season and Jesus Gamez has returned to Malaga B, where "more games starting a match will be better for him" for this young right back.
Athletic have also had a torrid season and are on their second manager, Javier Clemente, after sacking Valverde earlier, as this once illustrious club have struggled all season to get out of the relegation zone. So a six pointer in prospect in a game both sides need to win and both fancy their chances against fellow strugglers.
Teams:
Athletic (4-2-3-1): Lafuente; Ireloa, Lacruz, Prieto and Amorbieta; Gurpegui and Orbaiz; Aduriz, Yeste and Gurpegui; Llorente.
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Gerardo, Alexis, Litos and Nacho; Edgar, Hidalgo, Bovio and Antonio Lopez; Counago and Salva.
So Malaga's team did hold a few surprises - yes two strikers, but Counago favoured over Morales; both central defenders Cesar and Fernando Sanz on the bench and Alexis at centre back with Litos, who has been on the sidelines with Tapia; no Juan Rodriguez, another Tapia ever present, but a first start at home for new signing, Bovio. Ribiero is not match fit so stand-in left back, left winger Nacho is selected there again.

It's a 6pm kick-off in the 18C warm February sunshine and Hierro is greeted with a huge cheer from the capacity crowd. Athletic are in their change strip of all-black with red numbers instead of their customary red and white stripes with black shorts and look menacing without kicking a ball.
In the first minute the nerves are showing as Arnau receives a difficult pass back from Litos and he miss kicks the ball straight to giant centre forward Llorente. Alexis is alive to the danger and gets across quickly to hoof the ball out of play.
In 3' Athletic's tactics become clear - Route 1. Llorente, their lone striker, is at least 8'3", but fast and nimble and Athletic's aim is to lob the ball over the top of Malaga's defence for him to run onto. It almost works as Orbaiz sends a beautiful pass onto the onrunning striker with only Arnau to beat. The Malaga stopper is not known for rushing off his line, but on this occasion he was out quick to stifle the danger.
It's 5' before Malaga mount their first attack. Gerardo plays the ball through for Edgar in space in the box. Edgar's pace carries him past the defence but his shot is straight at Lafuente.
Another scare for Malaga in 6' as Llorente again has an opportunity. This time he has his back to goal as he receives his pass, but he swivels dramatically to fire his shot just over the bar.
Athletic are enjoying the best of the action in these first few minutes as Malaga's new defensive line-up tries to get to grips. Llorente towers above both Alexis and Litos, who short on inches, make up for that in pace and positioning.
The next minute Salva gets onto a nice through ball from Hidalgo, but Lafuente rushes out of his box and smothers the ball at the burly striker's feet.
Malaga try again in the next minute, this time down the left wing. Good interpassing between Hidalgo and Antonio Lopez allows the overlapping Nacho to get to the by-line. His cross has plenty of pace and eludes both Salva and Counago to arrive a Edgar's feet. He tries a shot from 6 yards that is just wide.
Llorente is still causing problems with his height and pace and in 15' Gerardo does well to beat him to the ball to head out for a corner.
In 20' Alexis tries to emulate the Route 1 tactic with a long pass from his own 18 yard line to Counago. The ex Ipswich man tries a low drive but Lafuente has no real difficulty in making the save.
In 28' the first booking of the game is Orbaiz for a foul from behind on Hidalgo.
In 30' Nacho is fouled on the left just outside the box. There is some jostling in the crowded box as Hidalgo takes the kick. Hidalgo picks out LITOS who makes no mistake as he heads past Lafuente. GOAL - we haven't seen one of them for a long time at La Roseleda and we are going to celebrate. The crowd go daft - blow for full-time now ref and we'll go away happy. It's also a little ironic that the goal is scored by a player not really quoted in the last year by the former manager, whose name we have already forgotten. Fickle - yep, that's what us football supporters are the world over.
Malaga 1 Athletic 0
In 34' another great chance falls to Edgar. Again he uses his pace to just run past the full back. Lafuente runs out of his 6 yard box and dives full length in the corner of the 18 yard box to stop the shot from the Portuguese Angolan.
Ireola is in full flight and Antonio Lopez looks like last man, albeit at almost the half way line, when he brings the full back down unceremoniously in 38'. His card is yellow but could have been a straight red.
Orbaiz takes the kick and sends it deep into the box to the Llorente. The gigantic one nods it down and as Arnau goes diving to save the shot that wasn't, the ball falls to ARDUIZ who simply taps the ball into the undefended net to equalise.
Malaga 1 Athletic 1
In 41' Malaga have the ball in the net again. Edgar tries to send in a cross from the right but it's blocked and goes for a corner. Hidalgo's accurate kick finds Salva's head and it's in! But the ref says "no, there's some infringement" and the goal is disallowed.
In 44' Edgar is fouled on the right wing and Antonio Lopez trots across from the left wing to take the kick. Again there is much jostling in the box and Litos is pushed out of Antonio Lopez's pass. Penalty! The crowd are on their collective feet all around the ground, but the ref says "No".
The referee is not the most popular man in Malaga at the moment after disallowing what seemed a perfectly good goal and now not awarding a cast-iron penalty. He is given much abuse, much stronger than "the referee's a wanker" and the referee has to be escorted off the field at half time by police in full riot gear, with their shields raised high in Roman style to avert any flying objects.

Half-time Malaga 1 Athletic 1

From the kick-off Malaga almost take the lead. Again it's Edgar down the right wing who causes the danger when he skips into space to send a delightful cross for the powerful Salva to head. Lafuente has to make a fantastic full length save to stop a certain goal.
Malaga are playing with much more spirit than in previous weeks and at a higher tempo. The fans are lapping it up and shouting their team on when they have the ball and whistling when Athletic take possession.
In 50' the ball comes out of the Athletic defence and lands at Nacho's feet. He tries a shot from fully 40 yards and Lafuente has to punch nervously to clear.
Llorente is surprisingly substituted and Danobeite comes on to replace him after 51'. Yeste moves up to take up the striker's role.
In 52', Litos becomes the second Malaga booking and third so far, for a foul on Yeste who has become more prominent since his change of position. Yeste takes the free kick himself but his shot cannons off the wall and goes over. It's Yeste with the corner kick too, but he tries an inswerver and Arnau easily punches clear.
In 55' Counago shows some good skill and he forces a corner with his persistence. Lafuente rises above everybody to Hidalgo's corner and punches clear.
In 62' the ineffective Antonio Lopez is substituted for Gabriel. The little Brazilian takes up the right wing berth with Edgar moving to the left.
In 65' Aduriz goes off for another striker, Urzaiz, as Athletic change to a 4-4-2 formation as they go looking for the winner.
Urzaiz's first effort is an audacious shot from his own half, which has Arnau scrambling back from his 18 yard line to see the ball land on the roof of the net. Whew!
In 66' Nacho becomes Malaga's third booking, for a stupid tackle from behind deep in Athletic's half.
Two minutes later and Nacho is in trouble again. He is caught out of position upfield and is beaten for pace by Yeste, who has run onto the ball in the space which should be occupied by the left back. Nacho tries to catch him up, but only succeeds in catching Yeste's legs and the striker falls down all too easily. The referee produces another yellow card, but as he's already been booked, Nacho is shown the red card and he's off!
Well, Malaga are down to ten men and Athletic's tails are up!
In 69' Hidalgo, who's been having a good game, wins a free kick down the right wing. There is the usual jostling the box and the kick is delayed whilst the referee tries to sort it out. Malaga take the opportunity to bring on Cesar for Counago, so Alexis moves to left back to accommodate him. The giant centreback rushes immediately into the box to add to the mayhem. At last Hidalgo is able to take the free kick, which he floats to the far post. Cesar makes a dash for the near post taking three defenders with him, so when the ball comes down from the heavens, it finds SALVA standing on his own and he gratefully picks his spot and heads home! GOAL!
Malaga 2 Athletic 1
I look at my watch and it's now 75' gone. It took almost 10 minutes for the free kick, Cesar substitution, goal and restart!
In 76' Athletic make another change - defender Prieto off for attacking midfielder Tiko, as Athletic try to make their one man advantage tell.
In 80' there is an unusual contretemps. Arnau, who has just been warned by the referee for time wasting, lets a loose ball run to the corner of his 18 yard box, near the by-line. Yeste runs across to make him pick it up and play it. Arnau does pick up the ball and walks forward to the 18 yard line. He shows Yeste the ball then goes to kick it upfield. Yeste sticks up his leg and takes the ball from Arnau. The result - both are booked by the referee.
In 82' Salva is booked (seventh yellow of the match for Malaga) for dissent after the referee did not award a free-kick after the striker was upended in the centre circle.
Despite being down to ten men, Malaga are the team pressing forward and looking much the likelier to score again.
In 83' Hidalgo is put through by the clever Gabriel. The attacking midfielder beats two men before sending in a powerful drive which forces a great save from Lafuente.
In 86' Bovio goes off to a standing ovation, he has not put a foot wrong all game in his defensive midfielder role. He is replaced by Juan Rodriguez.
In 91' Hidalgo, who seems to have a good rapport with Gabriel, slips a through ball for the little Brazilian, who sets off on a mazy run leaving a trail of Athletic players in his wake. He manages a shot but it is blocked and the danger is over.
Full time Malaga 2 Athletic 1

Well, a far better performance from the blue and whites and this result coupled with others elsewhere mean they jump three places and out of the immediate drop zone. Next week, they are away to Alaves, who have been in the bottom three all season, so another six-pointer and a great chance for Malaga to put some distance between them and the other strugglers.
The following week and the next home game is against Mallorca, the other team from the bottom three, so three six-pointers back to back! Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will there!