Match Reports

Well, at last, the first home game of the season. It's been some time since the last home match (22 May 2005) so the anticipation for this first home match of the season was high. Players have come and gone and new players have been signed, giving us our first opportunity to see them "in the flesh".
The latest arrival is Brazilian central midfielder, Anderson, on loan from Everton via Real Sociedad, until January and signed just 10 days ago. His signing is as a stopgap until another Brazilian, Bovio, arrives at the end of the Brazilian season in December. However, there is an option to sign Anderson on a proper contract if he impresses sufficiently.
Tapia's line-up was eagerly anticipated after the match against Newcastle last week and surprisingly he opted for a 4-4-2 formation as he is without the injured Romero and Hildago and with Juanito and Michel Angel transferred and Anderson so recently arrived, he had limited options to fill his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. So it was Alexis (promoted from Malaga B) at right back, in central midfield, Gerardo (who played all last season as right back) and Nacho (new signing in close season, a left winger, brought in to provide cover for Duda) and up front, new signings, Uruguayan, Chengue Morales, and the return of old favourite, Salva, released from his contract with Valencia to allow him to join Malaga.
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Alexis, Cesar Navas, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Juan Rodriguez, Gerardo, Nacho and Duda; Morales and Salva.
Espanyol, who were in the top six in La Liga all season last year, also lost their first game of the season, so both teams were looking for the first win. The "other" team from Barcelona, who play at the Olympic Stadium there, played with Lopo as a sweeper in front of eccentric but brilliant Cameroon goalkeeper, Kameni, and with Spain international, Tamudo, who scored in the midweek World Cup qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro as the loan striker in a 1-3-5-1 formation.
Espanyol (1-3-5-1): Kameni; Lopo; Se, Pochettino and David Garcia; Domi, Fredson, Costa, Luis Garcia and Juanfran; Tamudo.

The game, played in front of a full house, starts tentatively, with both sides finding their way and Malaga in particular, getting used to a new formation and a sprinkling of new players in the team.
It's 12 mins before there is any goalmouth action, when a Duda cross from the left sought out the 8'6" striker Morales, whose header produced a fine save from Kameni onto the bar and over.
Malaga are in control and it's another chance provided by Duda on the left in 16' who hits a firm cross along the six yard line, but which eludes both Salva and Morales.
The first time Arnau is brought into play is in 18'. His punch out from a cross from Domi finds Duda who slips it to Nacho on the halfway line. The diminutive winger breaks down the left wing and sends in a wonderful cross but Morales, who is winning everything in the air, heads over.
In 25 minutes Arnau has to make a fine point blank save from Tamudo, but the wee striker was offside anyway.
Two minutes later the ball falls to Juan Rodriguez on the right after neat interchanges down the left between Duda and Gerardo, but the big striker has his powerful drive blocked by the Espanyol defence who are defending in numbers.
Domi is the most dangerous of the Espanyol players with his strong runs down the left wing and Alexis has to keep his wits about him.
In 33' Gerardo was the first to be booked for a tackle from behind at halfway.
Espanyol's best effort so far comes in 38' when Brazilian midfielder, Fredson, finds himself with the ball and in the clear 40 yards out, but his shot is sent high into the upper stands.
The next minute, Malaga have their clearest chance to date. Morales wins the ball in midfield and has only the goalkeeper between him and a debut goal. Duda runs wide in support and instead of electing to shoot, the huge Uruguayan passes to the little Portuguese winger, who, as par for the course, fluffs his shot.
Then out of the blue in 42' Juanfran, who has been invisible so far, ghosts in from the right wing past startled defenders Fernando Sanz and Cesar who seem to stand and watch and he delivered a low shot past an equally static Arnau to make it 0-1. Quite out of the blue and against the run of play!
Half time Malaga 0 Espanyol 1
The second half saw Malaga resume playing towards the Fondo end (where we sit) and unsurprisingly went all out to get back into the game. Straight from the kick off Nacho found space to try a snap shot, but Kameni made a fine save to stop the shot.
In 48' Duda wins a free kick 25 yards out but his shot rebounds off the defensive wall to safety.
In 51' Duda wins another free kick in the same place. This time his shot goes wide.
In 53' Juan Rodriguez is brought down in the same spot again by Lopo, who is booked. Duda takes the kick and this time finds the target, but Kameni makes an excellent save.
In 62' Malaga are encamped in the Espanyol half and Gerardo shoots on the half volley from 20 yards, but his powerful drive rebounds off the crossbar. The ball bounces back up to the halfway line and is picked up by the Espanyol striker Tamudo who lays it on for Luis Garcia to score past the undefended Arnau.
Malaga 0 Espanyol 2
In 63' Salva and Alexis are replaced by Anderson and Edgar, which required a big reshuffle in the team. Gerardo moves to right back, Edgar goes to right wing and Juan Rodriguez moves up to partner Morales.
In 68' Juanfran is replaced by Colunas.
In 72' Valcarce is replaced by Counago, who forms a three prong attack, with Nacho falling back to left back.
The game though lacks punch and Espanyol are just playing out time with Malaga seemingly giving up.
In 86' Morales handles in the box but the referee points to the spot and it's a penalty for Malaga! There is a gathering of Espanyol players around the referee in protest, but it's GERARDO who takes the kick and places it well out of Kameni's reach.
Malaga 1 Espanyol 2
From the kick off substitute Colunas goes for a run down the right wing. As he goes into the box, Nacho comes across to make a tackle, but before he gets near, Colunas falls down and the referee awards a ...... penalty for Espanyol!
More protests, this time by Malaga, but Tamudo steps up and Arnau saves! But wait, the linesman's flag is up, so the referee trots across to his assistant and awards a .....goalkick.
The game speeds up and the last two minutes are very exciting but it's all too late and Espanyol pick up the three points.
Full time Malaga 1 Espanyol 2