Match Reports

Malaga made the trip north to the beautiful city of San Sebastian, the jewel of the Basque Country, to play the first of three games in a row against the three teams relegated from the First Division at the end of last season, Real Sociedad, with Celta Vigo and Gimnastic to follow.
Real Sociedad have not had their troubles to seek, finding adapting to La Segunda equally as difficult as Malaga did last year. Indeed, many of the senior players are threatening strike action over a heavily in-debt club trying to restructure its finances by suggesting that the players take a drop in wages and that part of their wages be consequent on the team gaining promotion this year. Trainer, Welshman Chris Coleman, the former Fulham boss and ex-Crystal Palace defender, has found his first season in Spanish football a tough baptism and his job hangs in the balance after some poor results that have found the promotion favourites languishing in 14th place, some 13 points behind the leaders, Malaga.
So Malaga enter the fray against a club who have not won in the last five games, still buoyant after their 4-2 home defeat of Racing Ferrol last week.
Manager Muniz is forced to make a couple of changes to the starting eleven as centre back Rosario is suspended (replaced by Jesule, making his first appearance in the league this season) and Salva, replaced by Peragon, is recovering from an injury sustained in a charity match held during the week between Friends of Ronaldo and Friends of Zidane,. On the plus side is the return of Jesus Gamez at right back after completing his suspension. Wunder-kid Gerardo, who turned the game last week when he came on at half time, has to be content with a place on the bench.

Malaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Jesus Gamez, Weligton, Jesule and Rossato; Carpintero; Paulo Jorge, Hidalgo, Apoño, and Eliseu, Hidalgo; Peragón.

In driving rain, in front of 16,714 spectators in Anoeta, the home side suffered a blow to their hopes when ex-Malaga right back Gerardo had to leave the field in 4’ with a pulled muscle to be replaced by the youngster Castillo.
However, this setback did not seem to upset their rhythm and they set about forcing the game in and around the Malaga penalty area. The early pressure paid off when they went ahead in 9’ when from a corner from Xabi, the Malaga defence cleared only as far as Mikel Aranburu, lurking just outside the box and he scored left footed past the outstretched and despairing figure of Goitia in the Malaga goal.
Real Sociedad 1 Malaga 0
Although Sociedad continued to dominate the first half, Malaga did have chances, especially through the wing play of Eliseu on the left. He had a chance to equalise on the counter attack with his pace, but instead of running in on goal, he opted instead for a 40 yard pass to Mr Nobody.
Rossato came close in 22’ with a free kick with keeper Riesgo beaten, but defender Mikel Gonzalez managed to turn the ball round the post.
Eliseu came close when he tried a long range effort just before halftime but Riesgo made a brilliant save to deny the left winger.
Half time Real Sociedad 1 Malaga 0
Muniz changed things at the start of the second half, taking off Carpintero and replacing him with Gerardo. Pushing Hidalgo forward to support Peragon, Malaga went to a 4-4-1-1 formation.
The change had an immediate effect as Malaga started to take charge of the game and in the opening exchanges of the second half, Malaga had several opportunities to draw level, the best of which came from Rossato in 55’, which again produced an excellent save from Riesgo.
All the good work was undone in the 65th minute, though, when Eliseu was shown a second yellow card and sent off. Although Muniz immediately brought on striker Salva for Paulo Jorge, the 10-men were always going to be up against it.
The game was put beyond Malaga’s reach in 73’ when Carlos Martinez scored his first professional goal after a clever free kick by Xabi.
Real Sociedad 2 Malaga 0
Muniz brought on Calleja for Rossato immediately afterwards, but Real Sociedad were able to control the last fifteen minutes of the game to gain the victory which saw them jump six places up the table to 8th.
Full time Real Sociedad 2 Malaga 0

For Malaga it was an opportunity lost to extend their lead over their rivals at the top of the table, especially after Numancia lost at home 0-2 to Granada 74.
It is as well to remember that the top three teams are promoted from the Segunda and after 14 games played, Malaga still have a cushion of 8 points over the fourth placed promotion rival, Elche, as Sevilla reserve team Sevilla Atletico cannot be promoted. With another two tough games against former First Division clubs on the immediate horizon, will that cushion still be intact?
Next Sunday, Malaga are at home to Celta Vigo. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!

Segunda Table

1 Málaga 30
2 Sporting de Gijón 27
3 Numancia 27
4 Sevilla Atlético 24
5 Elche 22
6 Celta de Vigo 21
7 Hércules 20
8 Real Sociedad 20
9 Gimnástic Tarragona 19
10 Salamanca 19
11 Tenerife 19
12 Granada 74 19
13 Córdoba 19
14 Eibar 18
15 Castellón 17
16 Racing de Ferrol 17
17 Alavés 16
18 Cádiz 15
19 Polideportivo Ejido 15
20 Xerez 12
21 Albacete 10
22 Las Palmas 9