Match Reports

What a week for weather! It started with hot sunny days with fresh strawberries and cava out on the poolside and finished with torrential rain and thunderstorms. Geoff and my three year old record of attending Malaga matches without requiring a raincoat or brolly was under severe examination this weekend! The result - a five minute shower in the first half was all we had during the game, although the pitch was a little more "greasy" than it normally gets.

Last week Malaga were away in Sevilla against Real Betis and came back with a 1-1 draw (Hidalgo scoring from close range) and this weekend they face a Zaragoza team which beat Barcelona 6-0 in the Spanish Cup semis and so will meet Espanyol in the final. In the close season they lost David Villa to Valencia but replaced him with Diego Milito from Argentina and with 13 goals so far this season, the new man is second only to Barcelona's Eto'o as top scorer in La Liga.
Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar; Ponzio, Toledo, Cuartero and Aranzabal; Oscar, Celedes, Zapatar and Cani; Ewerthon and Milito.

Malaga made several changes to the team which did so well against Valencia in their last home game for the trip to Betis and again this week saw some surprises. There was no place in the team for regular right back Gerardo, who had to be content with a place on the bench, nor Edgar, who was even missing from the bench. Manu, who has not started a game all season, got a start this week. Morales, the giant Uruguayan striker who started last week drops to the bench and Duda, who came on as a sub last week, started this week. Even goalscorer Hidalgo had to be content to sit on the bench this week, as the hard work on the training ground this past week, must have influenced manager Hierro. However, sitting in the stand, I'm thinking that we should be seeing a settled formation by now so that the players can start to play more as a team, rather than a bunch of individuals wearing the same shirts.
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Alexis, Fernando Sanz and Nacho; Manu, Juan Rodriguez, Bovio and Duda; Salva and Counago.

It's a 19:00h kick-off, 17C, with a rain-threatening heavy atmosphere. The crowd was a little less than normal (because of the weather?) but there was still a good feeling in the ground that Zaragoza could be beaten and Malaga could start their climb out of the relegation zone. There are 10 games left to play and Malaga have 22 points, but the pundits reckon that 30 points is all that is necessary to secure another year in the top league, especially if Malaga can beat their rivals Real Sociedad, Racing Santander and Cadiz. So the pundits think that winning these three games will be enough and any points gained from their other remaining matches, which include today's visitors Zaragoza, Getafe, Osasuna, Villarreal, Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Deportivo will be icing on the cake! We shall see!

Malaga kick off towards the Gol end and immediately force Zaragoza on the back foot, with Manu racing down the right wing and finding Duda in the box. But the little Portuguese winger should have headed the ball rather than try to bring it down with his feet and the defence recovered to clear.
In 3' Salva had a great chance in the penalty box but slipped in the wet conditions as he tried to connect to pass from Bovio.
In 4' the first corner of the game is awarded to Zaragoza. Cani's kick is punched away confidently by Arnau. Juan Rodriguez picks up the ball and sends Duda on a chase into the Zaragoza half, forcing Cesar to come off his line and out of his penalty box to head the danger away.
In 7' Bovio finds Counago running into the inside left channel. The striker manages to get a good cross in from the byline and it falls to Duda, who goes down in the box after a tackle from Toledo. No penalty.
The following minute Malaga keep up the pressure when Salva is brought down by Cuartero just outside the box. Both Duda and Bovio line up to take the free kick, but it's Duda's effort which comes back off the wall.
It's all Malaga and another fine run by Counago down the left wing is completed with an inch perfect pass to Duda, but the Zaragoza defenders clear the danger.
In 11' the first real save of the game comes from Cesar when Jesus Gamez, overlapping down the right wing, sends in a curling cross-cum-shot which very nearly crept in just under the bar. Cesar just got a fist to the ball and punches the ball clear.
In 14' Salva intercepts a pass in the centre circle and runs towards the goal. He is brought down from behind (normally a booking offence, but not this time). Duda takes the free kick and hits the wall.
Zaragoza have weathered this early storm and their defence looks strong and capable.
We have to wait until the 25th minute to see a shot from Zaragoza. The Brazilian Ewerthon takes a pot shot from 25 yards across the goalmouth from a wide position, but his shot is off target.
In 29' Manu dribbles his way past two defenders to the edge of the box. His shot has power but is rising and just skims over the bar. That would have been some goal.
In 32' Fernando Sanz becomes the first booking of the game for a foul on Celedes from behind. Oscar takes the resultant free kick which Arnau has to tip over the bar. Cani's corner is cleared by the very efficient Alexis.
In 36' Toledo clashes with Salva. It's a head knock and he has to go off for treatment. The physio applies a jar of vaseline and the defender tries to return, but the ref says "No, I want that head of yours bandaged". It is lucky that we have medically competent referees in the game. Toledo returns to the game in the 43rd minute, suitably bandaged. Malaga were unable to take advantage of these seven minutes.
Half-time Malaga 0 Zaragoza 0
Malaga have started a new thing where you can send them a text message on your mobile and they will display it on the giant scoreboard. However, the few Zaragoza fans have got wind of this first and start putting predicted scorelines up on the board in their team's favour, which momentarily confuses the Malaga fans during the half time interval.
Zaragoza make a substitution at half time. Celedes comes off and ex-Malaga midfielder Movilla comes on to welcoming applause from the Malaga crowd.
Malaga almost go ahead in the first minute after the resumption. The ever willing Counago makes a run down the right and forces Aranzabal to concede a corner. The ball is semi-cleared only to Manu who puts the ball back across the six yard line. Counago's header, though, is easily mopped up by Cesar.
In 50' Bovio splits the defence with a great ball for Counago. The quick striker is past the defenders but is brought down from behind in the box. A penalty and a red card, surely? Nada.
In 51' Manu, who's had a good game forces another corner on the right. Duda's corner kick is cleared but only to Bovio, who finds Manu in space. The winger tries a shot but it goes just past with Cesar watching hopefully.
In 54' Counago turns Toledo to crate space for a shot from 18 yards but it's just wide.
In 55', three things happen
Jesus Gamez appears down the right wing and tries another of those cross-cum-shots. It again is falling just below the bar and again Cesar makes a fine save by finding a finger to touch the ball over.
Manu is replaced by Hidalgo
Toledo is booked for a foul on Duda.
Zaragoza cannot get out of their half during this second period as Malaga continue to press, make chances and try to get the goal that would give them three precious points.
In 60' Salva receives another fine pass from Bovio, who looks in command the centre of midfield. The ball somehow gets under the big striker's feet and the Zaragoza defenders get the time they need to make the intervention and clear.
Zaragoza resort to offside tactics and the eager Malaga forwards are caught out three or four times in the next five minutes, much to the frustration of the strikers and crowd alike.
Zaragoza seemed to have settled for a draw and are quite content to allow Malaga possession and use the offside trap and kicking the ball out of play, whilst Malaga seem to be thinking that they have at least the draw and with a bit of luck and good fortune, may get the goal their play and possession deserve.
In 64' the impressive Cani is replaced by Savio.
In 66' the unimpressive Milito is replaced by Sergio Garcia.
In 75' Oscar is booked for a foul on Nacho. Counago is replaced by Morales.
In 77' Jesus Gamez, who has become more of a right winger than a full back since Manu was taken off, wins a throw at the corner flag. He throws it to Bovio and the Brazilian takes a swing towards goal, but it's inches over.
In 78' Salva forces a corner on the left out of nothing. Hidalgo takes it and his inswinger has to be punched clear from under the bar by Cesar.
In 84' Duda is replaced by Gabriel.
The midfield, Hidalgo and Bovio in particular continue to provide openings in the defence for the strikers to exploit but the linesman's flag seems to be continually up for offside.
The 90 minutes are up and both teams seem now certain that the game will finish as a draw. Four minutes are added on for stoppages.
In 93' Sergio Garcia chases a lost ball into the box. Arnau comes out to gather comfortably, but the Zaragoza striker collides with the goalkeeper and both go down. For a moment there is some confusion as Sergio Garcia lies prone in the box, seeking a penalty, I think. Arnau has only one thought - get the ball quickly to the other end and rushes out to the edge of the box to loft it into the night air. But no. The referee says it's a free kick and Arnau must go back to the goal box to take the kick. Well, all the defenders and attackers alike, except for Sergio Garcia, have moved up to the half way line awaiting Arnau's kick. The goalkeeper has to run back from the 18 yard line to the six yard line to place the ball for the free kick. He takes it hurriedly, aiming for Alexis. But his kick is woefully weak and the now on-his-feet Sergio Garcia intercepts the ball and puts it square across the penalty box to where Ewerthon has been awake enough to see what had happened and run onto the ball to slip it into the empty net.
Malaga 0 Zaragoza 1
There was no restart and that bizarre goal was the last act of the match. Stunned? Stunned is not strong enough. Travesty? Definitely. Does this mean the end for Malaga in La Liga this season? Very probably. What a disaster!
The other teams just above Malaga, Alaves, Betis, Mallorca, Cadiz all managed to get a point at the weekend, opening the gap up between Our Boys and themselves, so everything has worked against them again.
This week the league have a full schedule of midweek games and on Wednesday, Malaga are away to Deportivo La Coruna. Next Saturday, Malaga are at home again, to runaway leaders Barcelona. Malaga must take points from some of these games, no matter who they are playing. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.