Match Reports

On Wednesday 10 January 2007, Malaga played the first leg of the last 16 tie in the Copa del Rey (equivalent to the Spanish FA Cup) against First Division side Real Zaragoza.
Real Zaragoza are Spain's in form side just now having defeated league leaders Sevilla at the weekend and are in fourth (and Champion's League) position. They will play Real Madrid this coming weekend and my money is on the team who play in old Berwick Rangers' strips.
The visitors played a very experienced first team squad against Malaga, clearly intending to make the return leg next Wednesday a formality. Malaga on the other hand played a team with a number of squad players, resting several regulars with one eye on Sunday's derby match away to Cadiz and league points more the focus.
Malaga (4-1-4-1): Gotia; Jesus Gamez, Silva, Jesule and Valcarce (c); Romero; Ristic, Hidalgo, Sandro and Ernesto; Chengue Morales.
First let me tell you the score: Malaga 0 Real Zaragoza 3. The Costa del Sol team were completely outclassed and outplayed and 0-3 was a tribute to Gotia, in Malaga's goal, keeping the score down. In truth, only Gotia, Jesule and left winger Ernesto emerged from the game with any credit.
Valcarce looks past his best, Silva looked lost at centre back and performed only slightly better when moved forward to the defensive midfielder role in the second half when the completely ineffectual Romero was substituted. Ristic has had to wait 6 months to get a game since joining in the summer and after this performance will wait another six months if indeed he gets another game at all. Hidlago and Sandro could not pass to anybody except in a Zaragoza shirt and Chengue Morales has surely played his last game in a Malaga shirt. When he was substituted at the beginning of the second half, he was physically pushed off the field by team-mate Silva, which shows what his colleagues think of him.
So a disappointing display, with no fight, no enthusiasm or desire on the part of most of the home team players. As a result, the game was no more than a training match for Zaragoza who must be one of the favourites for both the Cup and even La Liga this season.
My Man of the Match? The Real Zaragoza goalkeeper. He wore pink shorts and black tights and never got them dirty all night.
On Sunday it's back to league business, with a tricky away game at Cadiz. Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!