Copa del Rey: Zaragoza vs Malaga
Malaga entered this away leg 0-3 down from the first leg and with promotion their key ambition for this season, elected to field a team of squad members, resting the first team squad for Sunday’s league game with Castellon at La Rosaleda.
Malaga (4-1-4-1): Gotia; Molinero, Armando, Lobato and Jose Mari; Hidalgo; Perico, Francis, Ristic and Ernesto; Counago.
Real Zaragoza began dominating Malaga and were rewarded with a first minute opportunity with a header going just over from Brazilian Ewerthon, but it was Malaga who took the lead in the 13th minute when RISTIC bundled the ball over the line in a crowded goalmouth.
Zaragoza maintained dominance of the game but they were ineffective in the final third in which they could not beat the Malaga defenders and Goitia did not have to make a save until the last minute.
A problem for Malaga arrived in the last minute of the first half in which Counago had to come off injured. He was replaced by Popo but this also obliged the Malaga bench to also make a second substitution, with Manu coming on for Lobato, as they were not be able to have five Malaga B players on the field.
Neither Malaga nor Zaragoza could find their way past the opposing defences and the game finished 0-1. However, as Zaragoza had won the first leg convincingly 3-0 at La Rosaleda last Wednesday, it is they who progress into the quarter finals of the Cup.
So, it’s back to league business on Sunday this weekend. However the performances of some of these young players must be giving Muniz some headaches as Zaragoza as currently lying fourth in the First Division and fielded a very strong side. Three points on Sunday are this weekend’s target. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.