Match Reports

Last week's 3-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers, Real Sociedad, (a game in which 8 yellow cards were shown to Malaga players and Juan Rodriguez and Morales were sent off. Also, the manager, assistant manager and physio were also booked), virtually put the final nail in the coffin of this season for Malaga, as they now have to win five of the remaining seven games and hope that other results are in their favour - in other words, a miracle is required to prevent the dreaded drop to La Segunda.
Unsurprisingly, the local media are full of what will happen to the President (he looks like he will be replaced), the Manager (he will revert to his General Manager role and a replacement will be sought to manage the team) and the players, many of whom are out of contract at the end of the season.
We already know that Duda has signed a 3 year contract with Sevilla that is worth 480,000 euros a year (around £30k a week) and that some, including Salva, Romero and Bovio have said that they want to stay and get Malaga back in the top league, but we shall have to wait and see.
This week's match is at the unusual time and day of 17:00h on a Saturday, instead of 19:00h on a Sunday. The afternoon temperatures were in the mid 20's so we were looking forward to watching the match in the sunshine. The new stand under construction is progressing well, but the crowd was down on previous weeks and looked three quarters full. Yet another case of ground development at the detriment of the playing side? Next season in La Segunda I doubt if there will be 21,000 season ticket holders.
This week's visitors, Getafe, from Madrid, are enjoying their second season ever in the top league and are sitting comfortably in midtable. Their manager is Bernard Schuster and the German is proving himself to be a very competent coach after an illustrious playing career. However, his team is "modest", without stars or flair and depend on organisation and a typically German workmanlike approach to the game - stifle teams in defence and rely on counterattack to catch the opposition out. Last week they thrashed third placed Osasuna 0-4 away, so they arrive at La Roseleda in some kind of form.

Getafe (4-1-4-1): Garcia; Contra, Pulido, Tena and Pernia; Rives; Redondo, Alberto, Dorado and Nano; Paunovic.

Malaga appealed against Juan Rodriguez's first yellow card against Real Sociedad and it must have been successful as he is named on the team sheet. Morales is suspended after his straight red card last weekend. Duda (who's leaving for Sevilla at the end of the season) is dropped, not even appearing on the bench. Youngster Jesus Gamez is preferred to the highly experienced Gerardo (who's contract is up at the end of the season) at right back and there is a return for Vicente Valcarce at left back after several weeks out through injury. Hierro decides against his normal 4-4-2 formation so there is no place for Counago up front alongside Salva, but instead opts for a strange looking 4-2-3-1 line-up with right wing back Gabriel chosen to play behind Salva in the centre of midfield, Edgar in for Manu and Nacho taking up the left wing duties from Duda.

Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Alexis, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Juan Rodriguez and Bovio; Edgar, Gabriel and Nacho; Salva.

The game kicks off in lovely warm sunshine and the players seem to be playing in slow motion in the heat.
In 3' Juan Rodriguez lazily loses possession in midfield and the dangerous Paunovic latches onto the ball requiring Fernando Sanz, making a record breaking 201st appearance for Malaga, to make a last ditch tackle for which he was lucky not be booked or sent off for, even.
In 7' Malaga, playing towards the Gol end, win the first corner of the match down the left hand side as Nacho's pressing gives Contra no option. Edgar takes the kick but Luis Garcia collects easily.
The first shot of the game comes in 10' and it's from the dangerman Paunovic, who tries a snap shot from 30 yards. It is on target, but is weak and straight to Arnau.
Malaga win their second corner of the game in the next minute after Gabriel shows some excellent ball skills and pace down the right wing, but the kick is again easily gathered by Garcia in the Getafe goal.
Paunovic is proving a handful for the Malaga defence and Fernando Sanz again has to bring him down in a dangerous position. However the resultant free kick poses no threat to the Malaga goal.
In 15' Malaga's first attempt at goal is a fanciful attempt from Edgar from the half way line as he spots Garcia at the edge of his penalty box. The Portuguese's effort, though, is well wide.
In 18' Fernando Sanz, who is having a torrid time, has to stoop low to head a cross away from Redondo. He heads it straight to Paunovic, who, from 30 yards, takes a pot shot at goal. The ball ricochets off the back of the still stooped Fernando Sanz and loops over Arnau's head and into the net.

Malaga 0 Getafe 1

It's another freak goal and another body blow to the confidence of the home team. However, Getafe scent blood and go looking for the second goal which would surely kill the game.
In 24' Alberto sends in a powerful drive from 30 yards which requires Arnau to dive full length to his right to palm the ball away.
The unlikely source of left back Valcarce provides Malaga's second shot at goal in 25'. After an Edgar free kick is cleared from the crowded box to him, 40 yards out, Valcarce, with no other option available to him, tries to keep it low and blasts in a strong drive. However, it takes a deflection off a Malaga player and goes wide for a goal kick.
In 26' the first booking of the match is Jesus Gamez for high feet on Dorado.
In 30' Getafe win their first corner of the game when Nano kicks the ball off Jesus Gamez. The kick is delayed as the 100 or so throng (you know the guys with the drums, the loudhailers, constant singing and chanting etc) behind the goal throw their scarves into the goalmouth. As the players pick up the scarves and clear the area, the crowd behind the goal, in another premeditated protest at the club's management, en masse take off their tops revealing white tee shirts with a slogan, which politely asks the board and management of Malaga to go away somewhere nice, leave their seats and move to the back of the stand. Arnau collects Nano's corner easily but the Malaga players are visibly shaken by this strong protest from the group of staunch supporters who are most audibly behind the team at every game.
The game goes into a lull for a few minutes. It's as though both sets of players are considering what has happened off the pitch; Malaga's seemed stunned and Getafe's sense that they should be capitalising on the moment but just lack the wit and invention to do anything about it.
Bovio, the Brazilian playmaker, is the first to wake up and from his deep defensive midfield position decides to run at the Getafe defence. Spanish teams don't like players running at them and usually cynically bring them down pretty quickly, but Bovio has good feet and goes past three despairing tackles before eventually being pushed off the ball deep in the penalty area. As usual for Malaga this season - no penalty.
In the minutes before half time, Edgar, who hasn't recovered from the protest from the supporters behind the goal, seems to be all at sea and allows Dorado to pick up a ball in midfield which he wasn't entitled to. The attacking midfielder bears down on goal passing two defenders before Alexis (easily Malaga's best performer over the past few weeks) sticks out a leg which kills the pace and deflects Dorado's shot into Arnau's arms.

Half time Malaga 0 Getafe 1

Malaga introduce two subs on the resumption - Edgar comes off for Counago and Nacho comes off for Antonio Lopez. Gabriel moves to the right wing and Counago moves up front alongside Salva as Malaga revert to a 4-4-2 formation.
In 47' the two subs have an immediate impact as the busy Lopez uses some trickery to get into the box. He slips the ball to Counago, but he tries to place the ball without enough power and Garcia makes the save.
In 49' the two subs combine again. This time, Antonio Lopez elects to shoot himself and his effort can only be parried by Garcia. Counago has two defenders and goalkeeper to contend with but he picks up the loose ball and fires home from five yards. It's only his third goal of the season, but it's the first we've seen in a long time at La Roseleda and it's a time to go a little mad and enjoy the moment.

Malaga 1 Getafe 1

In 51' Jesus Gamez takes a long throw from the right touchline which finds Juan Rodriguez's head but Garcia makes a fine save.
In 53' Juan Rodriguez is brought down in full flight as Malaga go for a second goal. Antonio Lopez flights in a delightful box but the referee spots an infringement by Salva on Garcia and the danger is averted.
In 57' Alberto reminds us that Getafe are still a threat when his run down the right wing ends with an excellent cross for Paunovic. The striker's header requires a fine save from Arnau.
In 63' Juan Rodriguez is booked for a foul on Dorado from behind.
In 64' the limping Dorado is replaced by Guizo.
In 65' Jesus Gamez is replaced by Hidalgo. Gabriel now moves back to right back for his third position this game.
The change seems to work when Bovio finds Hidalgo who in turn spots the overlapping run of Gabriel. The little Brazilian's first touch eludes him though and his shot goes wide.
In 70' Nano is booked for a foul on Gabriel and is immediately substituted for Riki.
In 72' Valcarce sends in a lovely cross for Salva. The burly striker goes up for it as Garcia rushes out. The keeper goes to punch the ball but connects with Salva instead and the forward crashes to the ground. There are loud appeals for a penalty, but as usual at La Roseleda, it's not given.
This event seems to knock the stuffing out of Malaga and their fire seems dampened. The game becomes scrappy and bogged down in midfield.
In 81' Redondo comes off for Cubill.
In 83' another fine move from Counago, who beats three before crossing from the left, sees Salva's header go just wide.
The game turns again in 84' when Paunovic is brought down by Fernando Sanz. The Malaga captain is deemed last man and is given a straight red card.
The luck worsens for Malaga two minutes later when their other centre half goes down in a challenge in his own box. He receives several minutes of treatment before being stretchered off. Malaga are down to nine men and have no central defenders on the park!
Guizo tries to exploit the issue as Malaga desperately try to reform and Bovio makes a timely tackle to deny the substitute after running back from midfield for 20 yards.
In 90' Malaga's last throw comes when Counago is fouled 30 yards out. Bovio takes the kick but mishits it and the goalkeeper gathers easily.
In 92' Alexis returns to the field shakily and takes up a forward position.
In 94' Guizo finds Paunovic in a wide position. From a tight angle the striker attempts an unlikely shot at goal. It seems to catch Arnau by surprise and hits off his body and into the goal.

Malaga 1 Getafe 2

There's no time for a restart as the referee blows for full time. I can say no more.

Malaga travel for the next two weekends, away to third placed Osasuna and second placed Real Madrid respectively. Their next home game is in three weeks against Racing Santander. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.