Preseason Friendly: Granada vs Malaga
On Sunday 12 August 2007, another cup final won and in the end, quite convincingly. Muniz started this game with what must be his second eleven and during the second half with a series of triple substitutions, replaced the team with the exception of Goitia in goal and Paulo Jorge in midfield.
Málaga (4-2-3-1):
Goitia;
Javi Martos (Raúl Gaitán, 57), Hélder Rosario (Silva,67), Jesule (Weligton, 63) and Rossato (Valcarce, 67);
Carpintero (Antonio Hidalgo, 63) and Sandro (Apono, 63);
Cheli (Gerardo, 67), Paulo Jorge and Eliseu (Calleja, 57),
Baha (Salva, 57).
The game was played in Almunecar in front of 2500 mainly fanatical Granada supporters, who howled at every Malaga tackle, shouting "roja, roja" to the referee, who seemed to award a free kick for each tackle.
In a match which even after the first five minutes was 100 times more entertaining than the debacle against Poli Ejido on Wednesday, it was the "home" side who took the lead in 27 minutes from a free kick just outside the box, which beat Goitia at his far post.
This seemed to spark some life into the Malaga side who were up till then quite content to stroll through the game. They equalised within two minutes when BAHA ran into the box down the left and from a difficult angle drove the ball across the goalkeeper to score an excellent goal.
This team played well enough but it wasn't until after the like for like substitutions in the second half that we maybe got a glimpse of what Malaga can do this season.
Before the subs came on though, PAULO JORGE, who was playing down the centre behind the striker, took a free kick from outside the box and watched it take a deflection to beat the Granada keeper to make it 2-1 in the 48th minute.
Paulo Jorge, wearing the number 20 shirt, took a long time to settle in this game, probably up until his goal, but really began to look the part towards the end.
It wasn't all Malaga though and Granada weren't here just to make up the numbers. Forced on by a noisy crowd they got back into the game from another set piece.
Again it was a poor free kick to give away on the left side of the box, but Vicente crashed into towards the far post where any number of players could have got a touch. In the end the ball went in off the cross bar giving Gotia no chance to make it 2-2 after 56 minutes.
After all Malaga's and Granada's subs came on, the game seemed to suffer a lull as the new players got into their rhythym and another penalty shoot out was on the cards.
Hidalgo and in particular the yellow booted Apono kept driving the team forward and the Malaga B winger, GERARDO, got some reward for his positive running when he got on the end of a cross from Calleja on the left to poke the ball home at the far post to make it 3-2.
Indeed, Gerardo should have scored again within a minute when, faced with an open goal from 12 yards, he blasted the ball over. Then Salva missed an even easier chance from six yards with the goalkeeper stranded, he put the ball wide of the right hand post.
A much better display from Malaga against a team who made them play every minute. Outstanding performances came mainly from the "A" team in the second half, particularly Apono and Hidalgo, who really made a big impact when they came on. Paulo Jorge shows promise and the left back Rossato looks a class player.