Jornada 18: Murcia vs Malaga
After Saturday's victory against Tenerife, Malaga climbed the table so that although they were five points above the relegation zone, they were also just five points off promotion. So a little run of wins and Malaga could be right back in the mix. Wednesday's game and the last match of the year before the short Christmas break is against Real Murcia, relegated themselves from La Liga two seasons ago and doing a bit better than Malaga this season lying in the top four.
Chengue Morales is suspended for two games after his sending off against Tenerife. Sandro is dropped in favour of left winger Calleja in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.
Malaga (4-1-3-2): Arnau; Jesus Gámez, Jesule, Schurrer, Jose Mari; Silva; Jonatan, Hidalgo, Calleja, Couñago, and Salva.
Malaga's plan to restrain their rivals in midfield seems to be working in the early exchanges.
However, against the run of play, Malaga go behind after 20 minutes when Ramon surprises everybody when gifted with a free header at the far post from a corner.
Murcia 1 Malaga 0
The unexpectedness of the goal causes Malaga to work harder, but seven minutes later, ex-Malaguista Abel makes it two with a crashing drive into the back of the net.
Murcia 2 Malaga 0
Then in 31' Abel scores again after receiving the ball in the six yard box and taps home past a hapless Arnau.
Murcia 3 Malaga 0
Three goals in eleven minutes! Murcia have had three shots on goal and scored with each of them.
The faces of Malaga's players express clearly the feelings of impotence and discouragement. The team no longer knew what to do. Was it possible to overturn a 3-0 deficit in the second period? Muñiz began to rearrange the team, going for a more defensive 4-1-4-1 line-up, with Jonaton Valle wide right and Calleja wide left and Salva up front on his own.
After half time, Perico replaced Calleja, who had not adapted to the changes in formation. Perico, a very left footed right winger, was placed in the left, while Jonatan continued on the right. Stosic made his league debut in 58', in game 18, coming on for Silva.
Hidalgo was called upon on several occasions to head clear from defence instead of creating opportunities at the other end.
Salva showed most desire, mainly in the second period, to try and help his team to improve this terrible result. He did not stop to give advice to his companions and, when he received the ball, it scared the few fans who went yesterday to the Nueva Condomina.
The forward hit the post in 70', but the ball did not enter the net.
In 72' Saul came on for Jonaton Valle as a proper right winger and the team reverted to 4-4-2.
However, we had to wait until the 86th minute before Malaga opened their account, when SALVA scored an opportunistic goal. Jose Mari launched a free kick into the box which deceived the Murcia goalkeeper and Salva pounced to take full advantage to obtain his tenth goal in the league.
But Salva had a still greater prize in his second goal, in firing in a drive that again surprised the goalkeeper. Malaga heaped on the pressure to get their third and tie the game but it wasn't to be.
Full-time Murcia 3 Malaga 2
In a game full of refereeing decisions which did not go Malaga's way and which caused Armando to be red carded from the visitors bench, Malaga again emerged without the points. They dropped to 12th position in the league and must now regroup before the second part of the season which starts in January with a home game against Almeria. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.