Match Reports

Malaga went into their third league game of the season against newly promoted local rivals Cordoba without their talisman striker, Salva, out with a knee injury. Otherwise manager Muniz kept the same squad and team with Peragon replacing Salva and forward Ivan Rosado replacing Peragon on the bench.

Malaga (4-1-3-2): Goitia; Jesus Gamez, Helder Rosario, Weligton and Rossato; Carpintero; Paulo Jorge, Hidalgo and Calleja; Baha and Peragon.

The opening minutes revealed Cordoba's game plan. Press for every ball and win every loose ball in midfield. Then use pace to mount a counter attack. Once again, with Hidalgo alone in the centre of midfield, Malaga seemed to give up the midfield area as Carpintero is very much a defensive midfielder and works very close to the back four. So the 13,644 crowd (and a live television audience) were treated to some backs to the wall defending and Cordoba produced the first goal attempt with centre back Pablo Ruiz beating Rosario to a cross and heading just over after 8'. Malaga were up against it in midfield and gave away a number of silly free kicks as they desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Cordoba's quick style was unsettling the more steadied build up preferred by Malaga. In 10' Goitia had to be first to a free kick hit hard into his crowded penalty area to punch clear. Goitia was seeing rather a lot of the ball in these early stages and tried kicking to wings or throwing to his defenders, but always the same effect - the ball came back to him. So, in 14', he tries a route one approach and launches a kick into the heavens and way upfield for Baha to chase. The striker does well to control the ball and slip the ball to Peragon to shoot. The little striker gets his shot in but is fouled in the attempt and ROSSATO steps up to hit a powerful direct free kick away from the Cordoba keeper Julio Iglesias's out-stretched arms. What a goal! What a GOOOOOAAALLLL!!!! It's the full back's first goal for his new club.

Malaga 1 Cordoba 0

The goal is against the run of play but seems to waken Malaga up a little and the game opens up.
In 18' Paulo Jorge becomes the first player booked for a studs-up tackle near the centre line. In 20' Juanlu breaks through dangerously, going past Weligton but Goitia manages to block the shot. But in 22' Cordoba get their just desserts and draw level. Pineda runs onto a through ball in the "D". Rosario slips and left back Rossato, leaving Alavez unmarked, has to run across the penalty area to provide cover. Pineda is forced to his left but manages to cross back across the goalmouth to ALAVEZ who scores from a free header at the left hand post.

Malaga 1 Cordoba 1

In 27' Calleja is booked not retiring 10 yards at a free kick. In the next two minutes Cordoba mount attacks on the Malaga goal and on both occasions make penalty appeals, which are ignored by the referee. In 30' the referee runs across to the visitor's bench and sends the Cordoba manager to the stands for protesting too much. In 32' Cordoba take a quick free kick from halfway, trying to lob Goitia - but the ball sails over the bar. In 33' Rossato sends a long cross field diagonal for Paulo Jorge to run onto down the right wing but the winger hits his shot wide. Taking a breather, we can see that Paulo Jorge seems to have a free role, more often than not finding himself on the left wing, looking for the ball. This means the right wing is left to Jesus Gamez to defend/manage on his own. Also Hidalgo, Malaga's most influential midfielder last season, has yet to touch the ball. In 37' Hidalgo at last gets a despairing first touch of the ball and gives away possession. In 39' Paulo Jorge passes to Calleja from the right wing. The left winger hits a shot which is deflected for a corner. In 41' the corner is eventually taken after some delays whilst the referee sorts out some argy-bargy in the penalty box. Paulo Jorge takes the inswinger corner and is defended out only to ROSARIO to boot the ball home from 12 yards. It's the centre back's first goal for his new club. In 42' Pineda is booked for fouling Goitia.

Malaga 2 Cordoba 1

At half-time, Muniz makes his first change bringing on Eliseu for the ineffective Calleja. In truth he could also have changed Hidalgo and Paulo Jorge who have been posted mostly missing during the first half. Malaga start brightly and Baha has a chance in 47' when he receives a pass from Eliseu 30 yards out but his effort flies over. In 51' Rossato is booked for diving. In 53' Eliseu beats two men on the left wing before firing in a cross, but the danger is cleared by a defensive header. In 56' Peragon slips the ball past the two central defenders for Hidalgo to run one on one with Julio Iglesias. The keeper blocks the midfielder's first attempt, but HIDALGO keeps his balance and is able to prod the ball home from 12 yards.

Malaga 3 Cordoba 1

Malaga have been on top since the interval and well deserve their lead. Apono comes on for the tiring Peragon. Malaga go 4-1-3-1-1 with Hidalgo pushed up in support of Baha. Malaga are in full swing now and in 62' Hidalgo intercepts a poor pass and makes it to the by-line. He turns the ball across the goalmouth and BAHA is there to head home from 6 yards. It's the striker's first goal for his new club!

Malaga 4 Cordoba 1

It's game over now for Cordoba, who have been punished by some lethal finishing and their early high tempo game has taken its toll on the players. There now follows a flurry of substitutions and bookings as the players tire and the result is no longer on doubt. In 63' Juanlu is replaced by Gizana for Cordoba. Then in 66' the disappointing Paulo Jorge is replaced by Cheli. In 67' Pineda comes off for Katkorro. In 71' Hidalgo takes a free kick but Weligton heads over. In 72' Dani is booked for scything down Eliseu, who has been very lively on the left wing. In 78' Pablo Ruiz is booked for persistent fouling. In 79' Apono is booked for holding. In 81' Hidalgo has the ball in the net again with Iglesias well beaten but he is adjudged to be offside. In 84' Pablo Ruiz is booked again, this time for hacking down Cheli. It's his second booking and he's sent off. In 85' Baha is booked for barging.

Final score Malaga 4 Cordoba 1

A convincing and well deserved scoreline for Malaga which retains their unbeaten opening record and propels them three points clear at the top of the Second Division. It's a great start of the season for Malaga and the supporters are rightly euphoric after the disappointment of last season.
But it's a long road ahead with 39 matches yet to be played before we can be sure of promotion. Still, for just now, we are all very, very happy.

La Segunda Classification

Equipo P W D L G.F. G.A. Pts.
1 Málaga 3 3 0 0 8 1 9
2 R. Ferrol 3 2 1 0 7 3 7
3 Numancia 3 2 1 0 6 2 7
4 Gimnástic 3 2 1 0 5 2 7
5 Hércules 3 2 1 0 6 4 7
6 Sevilla At 3 2 1 0 3 1 7
7 Castellón 3 2 0 1 4 2 6
8 Sporting 3 1 2 0 7 3 5
9 Elche 3 1 2 0 3 2 5
10 Eibar 3 1 1 1 2 2 4
11 Tenerife 3 1 1 1 4 5 4
12 R.Sociedad 3 1 1 1 1 2 4
13 Granada74 3 1 0 2 6 6 3
14 Cádiz* 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
15 Xerez 3 0 2 1 4 5 2
16 Córdoba 3 0 2 1 4 7 2
17 Celta 3 0 1 2 2 4 1
18 Albacete 3 0 1 2 1 3 1
19 Las Palmas 3 0 1 2 3 8 1
20 Poli Ejido 3 0 1 2 1 7 1
21 Alavés 3 0 0 3 0 4 0
22 Salamanca* 2 0 0 2 0 4 0

* Cadiz-Salamanca is a late kick off on Sunday night. But the result does not affect Malaga's position at the top of the table.