Jornada 9: Malaga vs. Xerez
Malaga returned to La Rosaleda on Sunday 21st October 2007 after their first defeat of the season away to Elche, hoping to return to winning ways against local Andalucian rivals, Xerez, who have been struggling in the lower reaches of the league since the start of the season. In front of a 14,426 crowd, Muniz at last made a change to his "normal" first eleven, by dropping the out of form Paulo Jorge and giving Cheli his first start of the season on the right wing. Salva had again to be content with a place on the bench.
Malaga (4-1-3-2): Goitia; Jesús Gámez, Rosario, Weligton and Rossato; Carpintero; Cheli, Hidalgo and Calleja; Peragón and Baha.
Xerez started the game strongly, no doubt having watched the tapes of Malaga's defeat the previous weekend. And so it seemed that the pattern established at Elche was to be followed, as Malaga were pinned back in their own half and the midfield bypassed by long high clearances hoping to reach the forwards - sound familiar? Only after the visitors had come close by striking the woodwork three times in the first twenty minutes, did Muniz realise that he had to make a tactical change or his team would be overrun again. Indeed as early as the 15th minute, he had Sandro warming up on the touchline and sure enough the little playmaker made his entrance in 27' at the expense of Peragon. So Malaga changed to a 4-1-4-1 formation with a beefed up midfield and Baha alone up front. The transformation was immediate with the ball now played along the ground and Malaga started to show more in the game. And within four minutes, Malaga were ahead. Baha ran onto to a through ball and crashed in a shot from twelve yards which the goalkeeper could only parry. ROSSATO was first to pounce and the Brazilian full back made no mistake from 6 yards.
Malaga 1 Xerez 0
In truth the game was completely transformed and whereas before Xerez were dominating the game, now Malaga seemed to be in complete control. Having said that, Muniz seemed to wish to just defend his lead instead of finishing off a very poor Xerez side and so there was to be some nail-biting moments before the final whistle.
Still 1-0 was the final score and Malaga return to their winning ways and remain three points clear at the top of the table.
Next week Malaga are away to another struggling team, Albacete, in yet another live televised match. Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be watching!
Goal: http://www.canalsur.es/resources_inf/archivos/2007/10/21/1192995285144malaga-zerez.rm