Match Reports

Sunday 26th November 2006; 17:30h kick-off. In the evening of another scorching November afternoon, Malaga take on third placed Salamanca, the surprise team of La Segunda, who boast the highest number of "goals for" in the appropriate column in the table.
Malaga are still reeling from their defeat last week to lowly Elche and are further disheartened at the news of their "saviour" in defence, the Argentine, Schurrer, is out for three weeks with a leg injury. Also still out are defensive midfielder Romero and striker Counago. So Muniz has to make several enforced changes before yet another game he must win.
After the recent run of results in which Malaga have not won in their last seven games, they find themselves 16th in the table, only two points clear of the relegation zone and a massive eleven points off the promotion places. Time to ring the changes then and Ristic, the young Serb signed in the summer, gets picked for the first time this season to appear in the squad. Will he play in the starting line-up and is he any good? Cesar Navas returns to replace the injured Schurrer and in a welcome selection, Jesule is picked in central defence alongside him. Jose Mari is brought back from the Malaga B team to replace the out of form Valcarce and Edgar is preferred to both Hidalgo and Sandro as the creative attacking midfielder, playing just off the striker. Malaga topscorer Salva has been recovering from an injury during the week and so the giant Chengue Morales gets the nod for the lone striker position in Muniz's favourite 4-1-4-1 formation.

Malaga (4-1-4-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Cesar Navas, Jesule and Jose Mari; Silva; Ristic, Edgar, OJ Morales and Calleja; Chengue Morales.

Salamanca (4-2-3-1): Felip; Granan, Tortolero, Mario and Lopez; Pina and De Souza; Martin, Ze to and Roberto; Braulio.

So it is a start for Ristic, playing wide on the right and it is Malaga who start the brightest, playing into the Fondo goal. It is 7' though before we see a real threat on goal when Calleja manages to beat his defender on the left wing to send in a dangerous cross, which Salamanca manage to scramble away.
In 8', the first booking of the game and Chengue is booked for not retreating quickly enough from the location of a Salamanca free kick.
The giant Uruguayan striker, Chengue, is very prominent in these opening exchanges with his huge physical presence and strong running causing panic in the visitors' defence.
In 10' the first real shot on goal arises after good interplay between Chengue and Calleja. The big striker passes the ball back to the unmarked OJ Morales, but he blasts the ball well over.
In 11' Ristic makes his first impression. Again it's Chengue making the openings and his pass out to the right allows the young Serb to run onto the ball. His cross/shot goes just over.
In 13' Tortolero is booked after failing after three attempts to take a free kick from the correct position.
In 15' Salamanca win the first corner of the game. Cesar Navas, despite his 8'7" height fails to reach an easy ball and Jesule has to sweep up behind him to concede the corner. This was to become a recurring feature of the match, although we did not know this at the time. Wonder upon wonder as Arnau actually catches the ball from the corner kick.
We are feeling good about Malaga's first 20 minutes when Salamanca's top scorer this season with 6 goals, Braulio, almost adds to his tally with an audacious back header across a crowded goalmouth, with Arnau beaten. But the shot is just wide and serves as a wake-up call to us all.
Although Chengue did have a shot go well over after 21' it's now Salamanca who are dominating the play, keeping possession with sharp short passing and seemly first to every loose ball.
In 26' Cesar Navas is booked for a clumsy foul, sliding in with his studs up.
Another scare for Malaga after Martin takes a clever free kick from the right which Jesus Gamez does well to reach to concede another corner. Malaga defend the corner well.
In 31', a controversial moment. Calleja spots Chengue's run down the middle of the park. He's free of the defence with his long strides and Salamanca goalkeeper has to run off his line and out of his penalty area to meet the giant striker. The two collide but Chengue gets to his feet first and starts to get clear of the goalkeeper. Felip appears to stick out an arm, tripping Chengue, who falls the ground. A defender runs back and clears the ball into touch. If the referee decides a foul has been committed the goalkeeper must be sent off! Result: no foul!
In 44' Chengue again creates havoc with his running and again gets clear of the defender on the left wing. The right back Granan pushes Chengue in the back and a free kick is awarded. Calleja's kick is too long and high and goes out on the far side for a throw in.

Half time Malaga 0 Salamanca 0
Reflections: A much better display from the home team, who have showed much more urgency against a very well organised and confident team, though without creating too many goalscoring chances.

Malaga reorganise themselves at half-time, taking off Ristic and OJ Morales and bringing on Hidalgo and Salva as replacements. The team goes to a 4-4-2 formation with Edgar moving to the right wing and Salva joining Chengue up front in a two pronged attack. It's as though Muniz realises that he was too respectful of Salamanca with his starting defensive line-up and this more attack minded formation was necessary to get the win that Malaga so badly need.
In 48' a strange set of circumstances. Braulio seems to go down on his own in the centre of the field. When players go down on their own, it is normally a serious injury and a Malaga player kicks the ball out of play so that the player can receive attention. The referee runs across to the stricken player, who immediately jumps to his feet and starts remonstrating with the official. The referee promptly goes to his breast pocket and shows him the red card! Must have been something he said!
Malaga's new set-up shows real promise in 53' in a good flowing move involving Hidalgo, Salva and Chengue, whose final pass allows Calleja to fire a powerful shot,requiring an excellent save from Felip.
In 54' ex-Malaga B player, Pina, is involved in Salamanca's first substitution, going off for Charcos.
In 59' the breakthrough arrives! Jesus Gamez takes a long throw-in from the right, send the ball high into a crowded penalty area. SALVA is first to react and scores from close range.
Malaga 1 Salamanca 0
In 60' Chengue slips a fine pass to Calleja who runs into the box and who is then bundled off the ball. Despite appeals to the contrary, the referee does not award the penalty.
It's all Malaga now, who are keeping their shape and keeping both wingers wide on the flanks stretching the 10-man Salamanca team. In 61' Calleja makes a break down the left and finds Salva with his pass but the burly striker sends the ball just wide of the far post.
In 64' Cesar Navas gives away another corner off his knee, but the extra defensive training that Muniz has been putting the team through seems to be paying off (despite Cesar Navas) and Hidalgo clears the from the corner kick.
In 70' Hidalgo has a chance at the other end. With all the players gathering at the far post awaiting his free kick, he elects to try a shot at goal. A defender manages to just head the attempt over his own bar.
In 73' Mario (another ex Malaga B player) is booked for high feet.
The next minute Calleja and Salva again combine and Salva's shot flashes right across the goal and just wide of the far post.
In 77' the disappointing Ze to is subbed for Math.
In 79' Chengue goes on a run down the right wing. For a big man he is surprisingly mobile and goes past three defenders. Edgar has moved inside to support him and when Chengue releases his pass, Edgar must surely run on and score. However, the Angolan pulls up with a hamstring injury and is replaced by Perico.
Suseuto also comes on for Roberto for Salamanca.
In 82' Hidalgo is booked for a tackle from behind.
Malaga seem to have the game won as they continue to dominate the play, but 1-0 is a slender lead.
Then 86' Salamanca seek the equaliser with three successive corners which eventually Jesus Gamez clears the danger with a good powerful header upfield.
In 88' Salva gets a booking for complaining to the referee over zealously.
Then in 90' our hearts are in our mouth when Salamanca are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Despite all Malaga's players back defending, the free kick beats the wall but Arnau is well positioned and grabs the ball and clutches it to his chest.
Full time Malaga 1 Salamanca 0

Crime Count:
Malaga: Yellows (4): Chengue, Cesar Navas, Hidalgo, Salva.
Salamanca: Yellows (1): Tortolero. Reds (1) Braulio.

An excellent result against a strong Salamanca team, which sees Malaga move from 16th to 9th in the table. A clean sheet too (due mainly to Jesule sweeping behind Cesar Navas) and a more confident approach throughout the team, which augers well for the next few games. The next game is also at home, next Sunday to Real Madrid Castilla, which will be shown live in Spain (and in the UK on Sky Channel 446 (Real Madrid TV)). A great opportunity for Malaga to start a winning run and get their season kick-started. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!