Match Reports

Just a quickie to tell you about Sunday's result. It was a 17:00h kick off at the San Moix stadium in Palma, so it must have been quite hot, temperature-wise, for playing. Tapia again tried a different formation, with several personnel changes again from the dismal draw against Alaves last Wednesday. There was no place for Anderson, serving a one match suspension after his ordering off against Alaves, nor for fit again Romero, in the starting line-up. He opted for two strikers up front in a 4-4-2 formation. Malaga: Arnau; Gerardo, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Edgar, Juan Rodriguez, Nacho and Duda; Salva and Morales.
The conditions and line-up must have suited "Our Boys" as they romped to a 0-2 score at half time with goals from Salva (his first this season and for his "new" club) after great work down the right wing and an inch perfect cross by Edgar, and Duda, the little Portuguese left winger who is very frustrating to watch normally, as he is always so involved with the play, being the principal taker of free kicks and corners. He took a free kick 40 yards out, which bounced just in front of Mallorca goalie Prats that totally deceived him and the ball finished in the net. Bit of a freak goal, but using the law of percentages, for the number of attempts he makes during a season, some have to go in somehow.
The second half started as the first finished and very soon (and before the hour) Malaga were 0-4 up! Duda got his second of the game with a spectacular 30 yard volley which the former Real Betis stopper, Prats, could only watch as it flew into the net. Edgar also got on the scoresheet for the second time this season, again coming in from the right wing, passing to himself right foot to left foot before sending a low drive across Prats and into the net from 15 yards.
Mallorca got a late consolation but this was a good result away from home and sends Malaga up the table from 18th to 9th position. The 21,000 season ticket holders at Malaga (a record for the club) will be hoping to see some of this form at La Roseleda, where the first two home games have been very frustrating to watch.
On Sunday, they face the mighty Atletico Madrid here in Malaga, with a 21:00h kick-off (live on Canal +, Spain's equivalent of Sky, so it may mean that it will be the live game on Sky this Sunday). Atletico have had a poor start to the season by their standards, so it will be a tough game and with superstar striker Fernando Torres up front, Cesar and Fernando Sanz will have to be at their best.
Can't wait - as your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!