Match Reports

On Sunday 11 November 2007, Malaga kicked off in Gijon on the Bay of Biscay at 12 noon in low temperatures around 8C in front of a live Canal+ television audience. The temperatures are in stark contrast to those enjoyed 1000km south in the Costa de Sol, where we watched the game in a beach restaurant in tee shirt, shorts and sandals!

This is another tough game for Muniz and his team, with Sporting being one of the most consistent teams in the league so far and occupying third slot in the table, just behind Malaga, who went second after last week's home defeat to Numancia, who claimed the top spot as a result.

Also, with three of his first team squad strikers out with injury, Muniz was forced to play Baha alone up front in a repeat of last week's 4-1-4-1 formation. As Paulo Jorge was suspended and with three strikers out, Muniz drafted in winger Gerardo and striker Javi Ramos from the Malaga B team to take their places on the bench.

Málaga: Goitia; Jesús Gámez, Hélder Rosário, Weligton, Rossato; Carpintero; Cheli, Hidalgo, Apoño and Eliseu; Baha.

In front of a noisy 13,500 home support, the two teams set about their task with some vigour and the game swung from end to end with some neat, slick and quick passing moves. In particular for Sporting, top scorer Barral looked sharp and dangerous and former Malaga B left winger, Diego Castro with his pace and tenacity, was proving a handful for Malaga's normally reliable right back, Jesus Gamez.

In the first fifteen minutes, Malaga were unlucky with two clear chances to take the lead; the first was a clear foul on Rosario in the box for which the referee should have awarded a penalty and the second resulted in a great save from home keeper Roberto, in a snazzy pink top, from Baha after a great run down the right wing by Jesus Gamez.

But it was Malaga who broke the deadlock in 30 minutes with a little stroke of good fortune. In a crowded box, Hidalgo tried to supply Baha, who was standing on the 6 yard line, with a pass but the ball rebounded off a defender. Hidalgo managed to collect the ball and turn near the touchline to swing the ball back into the area with left back Gerard trying to close him down. The pass was good and BAHA met the ball at the near post to squeeze in a great shot between the goalkeeper and the post to put the visitors ahead.

Sporting 0 Malaga 1

Sporting turned up the heat and pinned Malaga back in their box for a while, but with some desperate clearances and some excellent interventions, especially by Weligton and Apono, the home side was kept at bay until half time.

Half time Sporting 0 Malaga 1

The second half started as the first half finished with Sporting going all out for the equaliser and justifying their lofty position in the table.

In 60' Muniz made his first substitution, bringing on the youngster Gerardo for Cheli, I suppose in the hope that the defence might be given some respite if the winger could collect the ball and make a run upfield.

However, Malaga were just about surviving the onslaught, but were unable to take any control in midfield, resorting to hoofing the ball to safety rather than trying to hold the ball and build an attack of their own. Carpintero was again guilty of giving the ball away too often with misplaced passes and it was no surprise that he was replaced by a more creative midfielder in Sandro after 70 minutes.

The little playmaker did have some impact as Malaga actually did manage to venture out of their own half and might have increased their lead if Apono hadn't shot straight at Roberto. The keeper did well though to stop a shot from Baha from 6 yards, showing quick reactions.

In the closing part of the game, it was all Malaga could do to hold onto their slender lead as Sporting piled on the pressure. In 80 minutes, the home side made two substitutions bringing on two strikers to try and get the draw their possession deserved.

Their best chance came in 86', with Omar firing in a shot to which Goitia responded with an agile intervention.

Muniz responded in 88' by replacing his lone striker with a centre half, when he replaced Baha with Silva.

In the last moments of the game, Karanka almost managed to get the equaliser, but again Goitia was equal to it.

Full time: Sporting 0 Malaga 1

An excellent result for Malaga in a very difficult match, where they were under the cosh for long periods. To travel so far and return with all three points, in such different conditions from their normal against an immediate rival after suffering their first home defeat last week, was a testament to the character that this side is starting to show in their performances. Under severe pressure for most of the match (and not because they wanted especially to play to defend their lead) the players kept their composure, with only Jesus Gamez being booked in frustration after he was given a really tough match against Diego Castro. The young full back has reached five bookings and will be suspended for next week's home match against Racing Ferrol. The icing on the cake was to come later on in the evening when Numancia's home defeat to Sevilla Atletico meant that Malaga's win had taken them back to the top of the table!

Next week the match will be on Saturday 17 November at 18:30h again in front of live television cameras against Racing Ferrol. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!