Jornada 9: Xerez vs Malaga
A Sunday noon kick off with rain, yes rain, threatened. We travelled the three hour journey for this "derby" match.
Malaga turned up in Jerez with Salva out through suspension. Xerez are running away with the league at the moment with five wins, 2 draws and only 1 defeat from their opening eight games. They also have only conceded 5 goals (cf Malaga's 10). So Marcus Alonso (whose coat must be on a shakey peg) picked a very defensive line-up (4-2-3-1):
Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Silva, Cesar Navas and Jesule; OJ Morales and Romero; Saul, Hidalgo and Calleja; Counago.
From the kick off Xerez showed why they are table toppers. They had two men pressing a Malaga player every time and when Xerez were in possession, a combination of good passing and movement meant that Malaga were on the back foot for the first half hour and were very lucky not have conceded. Then in 30' Saul dramatically crashed to the ground after jumping for a ball with Giejo (the ex-Malaga striker is top scorer in the league and up till now had been most likely to add to his tally). The referee showed no hesitation in giving the tall front man a straight red card.
This was surely a great opportunity for Malaga, now playing against 10 men. No, Xerez continued to press and look the most lively. Malaga only just managed to hold out until half time.
Half time 0-0
In the second half the game followed the same pattern and then in 70' Xerez scored with a headed goal from a corner. They should have gone two ahead later in the half but Jesule rescued them by clearng off the line with Arnau stranded.
Final score Xerez 1 Malaga 0
A fourth defeat in nine for Alonso - I told you his coat is on a shakey hook!
I have cut this report short because the "game" was marred by the unusual event of having five red cards shown, three for Xerez and two for Malaga (both substitutes, Ador and Sandro) in a very poor show of refereeing throughout. Malaga also picked up another 6 yellow cards, (I lost count of Xerez's yellows) so you will know that the game had far too many stoppages to be the footballing spectacle it could have been.
On Sunday, Malaga take on Vallolodid (Alonso's previous team - I hear they're still laughing) at home. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!