Match Reports

A busy week in La Liga, three games in six days. After Malaga's extra time defeat by Zaragoza last Sunday, the team from the capital of the Costa del Sol travelled north to La Coruna to face Deportivo on Wednesday. Despite going ahead through a wonder goal from Duda (a 40 yard volley which screamed into the net), Malaga went down 2-1 after two defensive errors. And, as has been happening each week, their closest rivals at the foot of the table were gaining points, deepening the crisis at La Roseleda.
So this weekend, some respite? Er, no. The always much anticipated visit of Barcelona, the reigning champions and well on course to retain their title this season brings a top v bottom clash. Not much hope for the much needed win which could yet set Malaga off on a wee run which could get them out of danger, but a chance for local fans to see some incredible footballing talent.
However, Barcelona also have had three games to play this week and on Tuesday night they are in Lisbon to play Benfica in the Champion's League. So it was not surprising, if very disappointing, when Barcelona rested several key players for Saturday night's game. Not playing were World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldinho, nor Deco, Puyol, Messi and Edmilson. However, top scorer Eto'o did play as did former Celtic favourite Henrick Larsson, playing in his final season in Spain before returning to finish his career for his home town club in Sweden next season.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Belleti, Olguer, Rodri and Sylvinho; Motta, Van Bommel and Gabri; Guily, Eto'o and Larsson.

Malaga also had to bring in some fresh faces with ever present Alexis suspended, along with Juan Rodriguez and Morales. Nacho, Edgar and Hidalgo were kept on the bench as manager Hierro tried yet another new first eleven for his starting line-up.

Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Antonio Lopez; Manu, Gerardo, Bovio and Duda; Salva and Counago.

It's Saturday night, it's 20:00h, it's 22C, it's Barcelona at a packed La Roseleda. Malaga kick off defending the Fondo end, where last Sunday a ticket for Zaragoza cost 15 euros. This week, the same seat costs 90 euros!
After some cagey passing across the back four by both teams during the opening minutes, it's Barcelona who show first, with pacey winger Guily taking a pass from Larsson on the 6 yard line, but the diminutive one oversteps and Arnau comes to gather easily.
Arnau is desperate to have a good home showing after his dreadful (and potentially La Liga threatening) error last weekend against Zaragoza.
In 10' Malaga's first attempt is a half-hearted and hopeful effort from Duda, 40 yards out. It's on target but no problem for Victor Valdes.
In 12' Barcelona show great movement down the right wing. Guily sends in a delightful cross over the heads of Malaga's defenders to Larsson, lurking at the far post. His header is on target but Arnau makes it look easy.
In 16' Van Bommel has a go from 40 yards with a powerful drive. It's net-bound until it takes a deflection off Gerardo and the ball flies over the bar for a corner. Guily takes the corner, trying to swerve it in, but it's just over.
In 21' Counago finds himself free down the left wing. He's just outside the penalty box and lets fly with a powerful left footed drive. Valdes has to fling himself full length to make a fine save.
In 26' Counago, who's managing to slip free from his markers with regularity, cuts the ball back to his strike partner Salva, who's waiting on the 18 yard line. Valdes anticipates the danger and rushes out to smother the ball at the big striker's feet.
Malaga seem to be in control of the game at this point, but the menace of Barca's front three is always there. But it's Duda in 27' who intercepts a pass in the centre circle and pings it down the left wing for Counago. The former Ipswich man runs towards goal but his shot is weak and easily taken by Valdes.
Malaga continue to press and Manu runs onto a ball from Bovio down the right wing in 29'. His cross finds Salva's head and Valdes can only palm it back out into his box. Cesar, returning to the first team after several weeks, is there, but his header goes straight into the grateful Valdes' arms.
Counago's runs down the left wing are causing the Barca defence some trouble and the defenders are having to resort to desperate hoofing of the ball out of the park to avert the danger.
In 32' Barcelona mount their first attack for over quarter of an hour. Olguer finds Larsson on the left wing. The speedy Swede in turn makes an inch perfect pass across the box to Guily. The dangerous winger shoots across the goal and Arnau can only watch in hope as it slides just past the far post.
In 37' a real stooshie. First, Antonio Lopez is booked for a foul for barging Belleti over the right touchline, about 30 yards out. From the free kick into the crowded box, Larsson clearly pushes the ball down with his hand to Eto'o, who makes no mistake from 6 yards. The referee seems to hesitate, but the Cameroon striker is already celebrating and the man in the middle blows his whistle and points to the centre spot. The crowd are incensed, the Malaga players are incensed, the Malaga bench are on their feet and are incensed and let's admit it, I was incensed. The entire Malaga eleven surround the referee and linesman on the touchline in front of the Malaga bench. The debate seems to last several minutes and Geoff and I are saying they are wasting their time as the referee will never reverse his decision. Then the whistle blows and the referee emerges from the ruck and points to the ........ goal box for a goal kick. Praise be! There is a God! Justice has been done! The score remains at 0-0. Larsson escapes without a booking.
It's now 40'. Arnau takes the goal kick quickly and finds Manu wide on the right wing. He's in space as the Barcelona men try to understand the decision. Manu continues his run unchallenged and we're hoping that Malaga can make Barcelona pay big time for their cheating ways. Manu approaches the goal; he's one on one with Valdes. Manu shoots, Valdes saves.
In 43' Duda again finds Counago on the left on the edge of the box. Counago swivels past his defender and has more time for his shot than he takes and his effort goes past the far post.
Just on half time, the villain known as Larsson has the best chance for Barcelona so far. Guily's perfect cross goes over 8'3" giant Cesar's head to land on Larsson's head. The cheat is well placed in line with the far post and his effort is well directed but Arnau is behind it and saves easily.

Half time Malaga 0 Barcelona 0

In 46' Motta brings down Counago 20 yards out. Duda, who's signed a three year deal with Sevilla, joining them in the summer, drives the free kick at goal, hits the wall and Gabri goes down like a sack of tatties and requires treatment.
In 49' Eto'o who's had a quiet first half, pops up in the right back position and with a telling pass, finds Larsson. The Swede fires in his shot point blank at Arnau but the keeper holds on to the ball.
Eto'o is not your normal centre forward. He drifts around the park in a free role and when he gets the ball there is fast and usually dangerous action. In 50' he appears wide on the right wing and slips the ball inside to Larsson, who's easily been Barca's most prominent player so far. The Swede shoots hard at the goal and Arnau has to make a great save to get palm the ball over.
In 55' Eto'o picks up the ball in the centre circle. He is allowed to run unchallenged towards the goal and put in a shot from 30 yards but it's well over.
Guily is replaced by Ezquerro.
In 56' the substitute finds Eto'o on the left. The slightly built striker runs and shoots at the near post but Arnau gets down and holds the ball.
In 58' Antonio Lopez is replaced by Nacho.
In 61' it's the Eto'o show again. Posted missing in the first half he seems omnipresent in the second. His run is halted by Gerardo, who has a clause in his contract, which automatically signs him on again if he plays 25 games for Malaga this season. Barcelona is his 24th game. Eto'o takes the free kick himself but the ball comes off the wall and is cleared.
In 63' Gabri goes off for Iniesta.
In 65' Counago goes off for Hidalgo.
In 66' Salva makes a pass in midfield which is intercepted by Eto'o. Again he is allowed to run and shoot, but it's well off target.
In 68' the most clear-cut chance for Malaga so far. Manu goes on a run down the centre and fuelled by Bovio's pass, he jinks past two defenders. Hidalgo makes a run down the right in support and Manu finds him with a perfect pass. All Hidalgo has to do is shoot past Valdes, but inexplicably, he turns and tries to pass it back to Manu and the chance is gone.
In 67' Bovio and Nacho go for the same ball and it lands at Eto'o's feet. He finds Ezquerro who's fine effort requires an excellent save from Arnau.
In 69' former Rangers and Arsenal man, Gio Van Bronkhurst comes on for ex-Arsenal man Sylvinho.
In 75' Duda forces a corner off Motta. Manu takes the kick on the left, sending in a curling inswinger. Both Hidalgo and Salva go for it, but the ball swerves out for a goal kick.
In 77' Arnau makes another fine save from a powerful drive from Iniesta.
In 80' Manu is replaced by Edgar.
Both teams are looking for the winner in the last 10 minutes.
in 85' Edgar's pace down the right allows him the space to find Bovio with a perfect pass. The Brazilian lets fly and Valdes watches anxiously as it shaves the far post.
The following minute Fernando Sanz gets up to head down a long ball out of the Barcelona defence. It lands at Eto'o's feet and his immediate shot forces an acrobatic save from Arnau.
In 88' Salva finds himself running alone in the Barcelona box. An easy pass from Duda out on the left would have given him an excellent opportunity. However the winger has an excellent effort himself and Valdes has to dive full length to just get to the ball as it was going in just inside the post.
92'. Our minds go back to last week's game against Zaragoza. Surely Malaga cannot give the game away in injury time again? Well, Eto'o certainly tried. His powerful shot from the right comes down off the underside of the bar and for a sickening second we think it's gone in. But no, out it comes and is hoofed into row Z.
Full time Malaga 0 Barcelona 0

If you had given us two goalless draws against Valencia and Barcelona at the beginning of the season, we would have been very grateful. But with the league position the way it is, these games are points lost.
Next week Malaga are away to fellow strugglers Real Sociedad, one of the three games the pundits say will save Malaga if they win it. I am still confused by this reasoning, however time will tell. The next home game is in two week's time against Getafe, another of the magic three. (Cadiz are the third). Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Remember, for past reports and other good stuff visit the following website: http://www.hodgers.com/malaga/