Match Reports

It's quite clear what is required to avoid relegation going into the penultimate match of the season and Malaga's last home game. Look at the bottom of the table and the relegation contenders:

Málaga 51
Las Palmas 51
Alaves 49

Real Madrid Castilla 45

It is clear that there are six points between RMC in the last relegation spot (the three below are already relegated) and Malaga with two games and six points at stake. All Malaga needs is one point to climb out of reach and into safety, or for RMC to drop points either at today's match (at home to Almería) or in the final game next week.

Malaga have problems of their own in their team selection, with both regular strikers out (Counago suspended and Ivan Rosado injured) so it means a rare start for 8'6" giant Uruguayan striker Chengue Morales and a call up for teenage striker, Plata, from the youth team as cover on the bench. Long serving former Uruguayan international defensive midfielder, "Gato" Romero has announced his retirement from the game through not being able to get through injuries and has been promised some emotional last minutes on the field, match conditions allowing. Muniz keeps the unlikely defensive pairing of 36 year old Argentinean Schurrer and teenager Kiko, another prospect from the successful youth team. With regular Jesus Gamez missing through suspension after his sending off last week, Molinero gets a start at right back and Edgar retains his place on the right wing.

Málaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Molinero, Kiko, Schurrer and Valcarce; Gascón; Edgar, Sandro Hidalgo and Calleja; 'Chengue' Morales.

Cádiz (4-4-2): Limia; Velázquez, César, De Quintana and Lucas; Enrique, Bezares, Abel and Jonathan; Pavoni and Acuña.

It's a 18:00h kick off in bright sunshine with temperatures in the mid-30's, with Malaga choosing to defend the Fondo end in the first half. 14,854 spectators have turned up in the sunshine and create a noisy carnival atmosphere with drums beating, flares creating smoke clouds and banners flying in the light breeze. But it's Cadiz who start the game with more pace and urgency. In the first minute, Schurrer concedes a free kick in a dangerous position and when the ball is whipped into the penalty area, Valcarce is there first to head clear. It's a torrid start for Schurrer as Acuna dummies him twice before passing him down the left channel. The veteran centre back trips him for another free kick near the goal line. Goitia gathers the free kick and lanches the ball Route One for Chengue Morales to chase. Visiting keeper Limia has to rush off his line to jump and punch clear. In 5' Schurrer again concedes a free kick just outside the penalty area. Again Valcarce is first to the ball and clears down the left touchline. In Malaga's first real attacking move in 7' Edgar delivers a cross into the box where Chengue is just beaten to the ball by Cesar. Malaga go closer in 8' when Calleja takes a cheeky chipped free kick aiming for Chengue's head. The giant heads on target but Limia manages to push the ball around the post for a corner. Calleja's kick is cleared by the Cadiz defence. It's a pulsating game with plenty of action at both ends, but Cadiz do seem to be on top at this point. In 9' Schurrer is forced to concede another free kick which Goitia catches confidently. In 10' Malaga mount a sweeping attack through the middle with Sandro and Calleja passing beautifully. Calleja's cross finds Chengue, but he's offside. In 11' Edgar is clear down the right wing, but the former paceman is too slow and the danger is easily cleared by Lucas, running back. In 12' Cadiz keep up the pressure and win another free kick just outside the box. Goitia again takes control. In 13' Malaga's best effort so far. Chengue cuts back to Hidalgo, standing 25 yards out. He releases an absolute screamer and it's heading straight for the top corner. Somehow Limia manages to fly across his goal and make a great save, pushing the ball over. Calleja's corner is too long but finds Edgar who manages to turn and send in a powerful drive across the goal looking for a touch. It's touched by a Cadiz player and Malaga win another corner. This time Calleja takes it short and the chance is lost. In 15' Edgar and Calleja swap wings. In 20' they swap back again. The giant scoreboard gives us information we didn't want to see: RMC go one up against Almeria! In 21' Valcarce concedes a corner after giving the ball away with a slack pass. The corner kick dips just under the bar and Goitia has to look lively to stop the ball going in. However, Cadiz striker Acuna goes one better seconds later when he recieves the ball in the area and has time to turn and blast the ball past Goitia. But he's offside: WHEW It's a fright for Malaga though. The giant scoreboard doesn't help matters when it tells us that RMC have gone two up! But Cadiz have looked quicker on the ball, full of ideas and quick to close down Malaga in the midfield. Their central midfielders Bezares and Abel are controlling the middle of the field, where Sandro in particular has been posted missing. The little playmaker makes his first incisive pass in 38' when he slots through for Chengue to run onto on the half way line, but incredibly the big striker is given offside. Then a big let off for Malaga in 41' when Enrique finds himself completely unmarked at the far post. His header goes wide but he should have finished. In 40' Chengue, ploughing a lone furrow up front tries a swerver from 25 yards. It looks goalbound but Limia again dives full length to make an excellent save. In 43' Calleja crosses from the left into the box. Chengue jumps for it with a defender and lands in a heap. Penalty? No, Chengue booked for diving and misses the last game next week through suspension. This means that this game is probably his last for Malaga. In 44' Enrique is booked for bring down Edgar. On half time Valcarce finds Hidalgo whose shot is turned round the post by Limia. Calleja's corner finds Chengue but he heads over.

Half time: Malaga 0 Cadiz 0

We have discussed Malaga's tea lady here before and the issue is a constant worry. Malaga have lost so many games by falling asleep and losing concentration just after the restart. There have been many calls for her to be sacked and maybe she has because Malaga start firing on all cylinders.
Chengue has the easiest opportunity in his life to score in 46' when Kiko spots the Route One open for business and puts the giant striker through one on one. Limia keeps his head and somehow easily collects the ball from Chengue's big feet. In 48' another great chance for Malaga. Chengue charges into the box. Edgar is there in support but when he receives the ball, he seems unsure what to do with it. We are screaming "ShoooooT" but the Angolan does a three point turn instead and sends a cross along the six yard line to Mr Nobody. In 52' the hard working Chengue is again fighting to get to a cross from Calleja but
despite being half his height, defender De Quintana heads clear. Then in 53' Goitia has to dive full stretch to save from left winger Jonathon's drive from the wing. The scoreboard now tells us that RMC have gone into a 3-0 lead against Almeria and that Alaves have also gone 1-0 up. Malaga's plight is clear. Their rivals for the fourth relegation spot are getting the results they need but Malaga are safe as long as they hang onto the draw. Malaga keep battering the Cadiz defence and Chengue does well in 59' to hold up the ball whilst waiting for support. It's Edgar again but when he shoots this time he puts the ball well over. In 61' Acuna goes close for Cadiz with another free header at the left post. His effort hits the side netting. It's the Acuna show as the striker is booked for a foul on Edgar. In 65' Acuna strikes again. It's an innoccuous throw in from the left, but Malaga's defence stand and watch as Acuna collects the ball and fires it past the static Goitia. What a disaster!! With their relegation rivals winning and Malaga losing, our favourites look favourites for the drop.

Malaga 0 Cadiz 1

Malaga continue to pressure the Cadiz goal, now looking for an equaliser as yet again they chase a game at home. This time the equaliser means salvation from the dreaded drop! In 67' Edgar creates space down the right wing for a cross which finds full back Valcarce at the far post, but this header hits the side netting. In 68' Valcarce is taken off and Jonaton Valle comes on. Malaga go to the now recognisable panic-stricken set-up of 3-4-3 in all out attacking mode. In 70' Hidalgo goes close after a slick one-two with Valle, but the referee whistles for offside. Chico comes on for Abel for Cadiz. In 71' Molinero, who is now playing on the right wing as Edgar has become a striker, crosses for Valle whose header is deflected for a corner. Calleja finds Chengue's head with the kick and the big man heads downs strongly, but straight at Limia. In 72' Edgar is replaced by Perico. Malaga have thrown caution to the wind and have all 10 players in the Cadiz half, with only Goitia staying back. It's a dangerous ploy as Cadiz try to catch Malaga on the counter and in 75' Goitia has to make an excellent stop to deny the visitors an increase to their lead. In 77' Acuna, who has been a thorn in Malaga's defence, is taken off for De Paula. In 78' Molinero gets to the by-line and crosses for Chengue to head over. In 80' the pressure is starting to tell as Malaga have three players in the box passing to each other rather than take the responsibility of shooting. Sandro, Chengue and Perico are the culprits. In 82' Molinero tries something different and shoots well over from 30 yards. In 84' Malaga continue to press and Hidalgo is fouled on the 18 yard line. Calleja's free kick comes off the wall. In 85' Perico finds himself clean through. Just SHOOT. No, he passes to Mr Nobody instead. In 86' Valle finds Chengue in the box with a slick through ball. The big fella turns and passes square to HIDALGO who runs in and makes no mistake from 6 yards. GGOOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!! We are in tears as we check that the ref has given it. Is it a goal? YES!!!! Malaga have drawn level. We have won the World Cup, Scottish League and FA Cup all on one day! Let's blow for full-time now. GOOOAAALLLL!!!!!!

Malaga 1 Cadiz 1

Three minutes to go. But the game is all over and Romero is allowed to make his farewells with a substitution in 89' for lacklustre and totally ineffective Sandro.

Full time Malaga 1 Cadiz 1

Typical Malaga - leave it late and stretch the nerves, but the draw means that it doesn't matter what the other scores are. Malaga are mathematically safe. Hooray!

Well, what a season. Malaga started off as the biggest favourites for promotion, went into voluntary administration in December and have fought bravely against the spectre of relegation for too many months.

Next week sees the last game of the season, a nothing at stake match away to Castellon, a seaside resort on the Valencian coastline. But for Malaga, the rebuilding starts now and they have already made enquiries about players to reinforce their team for next season, including Saizar, a striker who currently plays for Cuidad de Murcia.

Season 2007-08 starts on 26 August 2007, with Malaga probably playing away as it too hot to play in Malaga in August. It will be another season in La Segunda, but with the year just past behind them, the supporters will be expecting Malaga to come out of the stocks with all guns blazing, some new exciting players on the books and a real challenge for promotion.

Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there. Enjoy your summer!

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 8:37 PM | Permalink

After a very early start in the morning of Sunday 14 January 2007, we drove for three and half hours and arrived at the Estadio Ramon de Carranza in Cadiz at around 10am to buy tickets for the match. We were lucky enough to be able to buy some of the last tickets available in a sell-out 20,000 capacity crowd for the 12 noon kick-off between these Andalucian derby rivals.
The last time the two sides met was the last game of last season when both teams were on the point of relegation from the First Division and the local side won convincingly 5-0. So Malaga were in search of some revenge as well as another three points with which they hoped to see themselves rise up the table.
With Schurrer out injured for three weeks, there was a place for Armando in defence. Counago was back available from injury and teenage sensation, Popo, was again named on the bench.
Malaga (4-1-4-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Armando, Jesule and Valcarce (c); Silva; Edgar, Hidalgo, Jonaton Valle and Calleja; Salva.
In bright sunshine Malaga kicked off in a game which was being transmitted live across Spain on their subscription channel, Canal+.
In truth the first half was dominated by Cadiz, who possess two quick strikers and time and again Jesule had to be quicker to avert disaster. Armando in Cadiz's goal did not have a shot to save in the entire first half, but Malaga's defence stood firm against the Cadiz pressure, with their forwards forced to fire in shots from long range. The main incident of an otherwise unnoteworthy half was the injury sustained by Calleja, which forced manager Muniz to make his first substitution after only half an hour when Sandro replaced the former Villarreal winger.
Half-time 0-0
In the second half, Malaga had more of the ball and began to grow in confidence, with some neat football and intricate passing moves. However, it wasn't until the introduction of wunderkid, Popo, after an hour for Silva, that Malaga seemed to change gear. Hidalgo moved into the "pivot" position in front of the back four, Jonaton Valle went wide left with Edgar on the right. Sandro took up the central playmaker role and the diminutive Popo slipped in behind Salva to provide the striker with some support in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation. But it is the pace and cheek of the eighteen years old attacking midfielder which creates something out of nothing for Malaga and his introduction unsettled the Cadiz defence. The home team seemed to panic every time Popo was given the ball and resorted to kicking the ball high into the stand in desperate clearances or to bringing the young man down illegally when he started to make a run at goal.
The game opened up and Malaga made their third and final change when Counago replaced Edgar. This new line-up really went at Cadiz and soon the home goalkeeper was having to perform some heroics to keep the visitors out.
And so, as the game entered stoppage time with the fourth official showing three extra minutes, we were pleased with our team's performance and agreeing that a draw was probably the correct result and a good morale booster for Malaga, gaining an away point in a cauldron of home support for Cadiz.
Then, the worst scenario happened. Arnau, who has been unconvincing in Malaga's goal for the past two seasons, who cannot kick the ball to a team-mate, who always looks uncomfortable with cross balls, who does not command his area and who, when Cesar Navas was in the team, seemed to give away a goal a game, managed to let a weak shot from within a crowded box from a last minute corner, slip past him for Cadiz to win the match.
He tamely stuck a hand down when he had the vision and time to get down and get his body behind and smother the shot, but no, in true Arnau fashion, he just stuck a hand down and deflected the ball slightly as it travelled past him into the net. No wonder he hung his head in his hands in shame when the goal was awarded.
Surely Muniz cannot continue to keep playing him as he is definitely letting his side down with these performances. Every other manager who has come to Malaga has started with the experienced Arnau in goal, but then went for a change eventually. It is time that Gotia gets his chance or I fear the dream of promotion, which is still there in a league where every team is capable of beating the their opponent (with perhaps the exception of Vecendario), will disappear.
Full-time Cadiz 1 Malaga 0

In the next two weeks Malaga have two home games in a row. In two weeks time, they play Hercules (from Alicante) in the first game (Jornada 22) of the second half of the 42 game season. But first they play Castellon (from the seaside resort near Valencia). Both teams sit the centre of the table and two wins could be seen as six-pointers and see Malaga make a considerable jump up the table, where they currently hold 13th position.
In midweek, Malaga travel to Zaragoza to complete the Copa del Rey tie, but being 0-3 down from last week's first leg, the less said the more the better.
So Castellon on Sunday 21 January 2007 then. Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 8:03 PM | Permalink

After a three week Christmas and New Year break, Malaga's first game of 2006 was away to local rivals Sevilla, in a hostile crowd of 40,000, where 1000 brave Malaga supporters ventured to see if the blue and whites could repeat last year's 0-2 away win.
But Malaga's bad luck continues. In the warm-up before the game, left back Valcarce sustained an injury and had to be substituted without making an appearance at the kick-off. Alexis, who has played all season at right back, was put in at left back and Jesus Gamez who impressed against Villarreal got the right back slot. Then, after only 29 minutes, Hidalgo was sent off on a straight red card for an innocuous foul in midfield, giving the home side a further advantage. Within three minutes of the sending off, they went ahead with a goal from Maresca, whilst Malaga were trying to regroup.
The visitors managed to hang on until half time, when Manager Antonio Tapia changed the team by bringing on 8'3" Uruguayan giant, Morales, in an attacking formation, with three in midfield and two up front. The impact was almost instant, as Morales found space down the right and his square pass was booted into the net by his strike partner, Salva, in 47 minutes, to restore parity. It seems 10-man Malaga had the upper hand at this point and went looking for a second goal. But the usually dependable captain, Fernando Sanz, made two errors in rapid succession in the 62nd and 64th minutes and gifted Sevilla two goals to Adriano and Dragutinovic respectively, to leave Malaga beaten 3-1.

So to Sunday's match against Cadiz, another Andalucian derby, and against a team new to La Liga, having just been promoted at the end of last season after many years in the lower divisions. In fact, Malaga CF have never played Cadiz in the league before, the last encounter between the two cities being back in season 1990-91 in the Second Division, before Malaga UD went bust.
We were all looking forward to the game as it had been several weeks since we had been to La Roselada and also we were looking forward to seeing Malaga's three new signings in the January transfer window, Brazilians Gabriel and Bovio, both signed from Brazilian clubs and left winger Antonio Lopez, signed from Sevilla. We were also looking forward to two home games in succession against newly promoted sides (next week sees the visit of Celta Vigo) and a chance to see an end to a bad run of seven games without a win, which has seen Malaga slide down the table to just above the relegation zone. Two victories would see them jump eight places in this tight league and out of danger.
So it was quite disappointing when we saw Malaga's line-up. Valcarce was still out injured, so Alexis remained at left back, with Jesus Gamez at right back. Gabriel did get a start, but on the right wing, when the press had indicated that he was a defender. There was no room for Anderson, our third Brazilian, not even on the bench, and Bovio and Antonio Lopez were named as substitutes. Also named as a substitute was Morales, who had made such an impact in the two previous games, and so it was a very defensive 4-2-3-1 formation that Tapia put out, at home, against a team that had only scored 12 goals in 18 games. In addition, captain Fernando Sanz was dropped (for the first time in three seasons) for his errors against Sevilla and Litos got his first start of the season in the heart of the defence.

Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Litos, Cesar and Alexis; Juan Rodriguez and Gerardo; Gabriel, Edgar and Nacho; Salva.
Cadiz (4-2-4): Armando; Varela, De la Cuesta, De Quintana and Silva; Suarez and Benjamin; Enrique, Sesma, Medina and Mirosavijevic.

In the absence of both Fernando Sanz and Valcarce, it's Edgar wearing the captain's arm band, as he lined up in the centre of midfield after spending the first half of the season as a pacy right winger. It's also the second home game in a row against a team with the nickname "Yellow Submarines" and the away team's kit was certainly in the bright canary colour.
The opening 10 minutes or so was like the two teams were struggling to adapt to the conditions as the ground was unusually heavy and wet, as prior to the match we had had three days of heavy rain. Tonight it was fair and 17C at the 17:00h kick-off, but Geoff and I were concerned that in our third season as season ticket holders, we were at last going to be soaked, as there is no cover at La Roseleda, and we had managed so far to escape any rainfall at all.
We had to wait until the 13' for the first attempt at goal and it was from Edgar, tight on the left goal-line, who somehow managed a shot which Armando did well to palm away.
Then, in the next minute, a sensational stooshie. Cadiz's first meaningful foray into Malaga's half and they win a free kick down their left after a foul by Jesus Gamez on Enrique. Enrique took the kick himself and sent in a good cross along the 6 yard line into the crowded box. The Malaga defence waited for Arnau to take, but their Uruguayan striker, MEDINA, clearly stuck out his hand to divert the ball into the net. The referee awarded the goal, after which he was surrounded by the entire Malaga team, who followed him across to the linesman, who had since trotted back to the half-way line, in front of the Malaga bench, who in turn were all on their feet remonstrating. After several minutes of protest, a yellow card was waved (at Alexis, I think) and the teams took their positions for the restart. The run of bad breaks that Malaga has had to endure this season continues.
Malaga 0 Cadiz 1
Directly after the resumption, Juan Rodriguez was booked for a frustration-led feet up foul on Enrique.
Then, in 18' Benjamin was booked for a similar foul on Gerardo and it was starting to look not a little uncomfortable for the referee, who had to reassert his authority quickly or the game was going to end with very few players on the park.
In 24' Gerardo takes a free kick on the right. Uncharacteristically, he does not go for goal himself, but picks out Edgar in the box. Unfortunately he has his back to goal and in swivelling around he is not able to direct his shot properly which goes just wide.
In 27' Enrique is allowed to run in on goal from a very obvious offside position and although Arnau makes a comfortable save, the Malaga bench are back up on their feet shouting at this same linesman who allowed the goal. The referee runs across the park and shows a yellow card to one of the Malaga substitutes, at this point, we know not whom.
Then in 28' the occasion Geoff and I have dreaded for three years. It started to rain! There was much of a flurry in the crowd as ponchos, rain-mates, beanie hats, plastic macs and all sorts were put on by the worried spectators. They needn't have worried. In 29' the rain stopped and didn't return during the game.
Back to the game and in summary it was a scrappy affair. Neither team had a grip in midfield; there was no fluency to the game. Malaga's formation didn't look right with no player taking the eye and all looking like they weren't sure what position they were in and what they were supposed to be doing, with so many players out of position. They reminded me of Scotland under Bertie Vogts. And Cadiz weren't any better, posing no threat to Malaga's goal as the game got stuck in midfield and was peppered with numerous stoppages for petty fouls.
Then, in 30', with all the time in the world, giant centre back Cesar made his pass wide to Alexis too short and lacking in pace. In jumped MEDINA to intercept and run onto Arnau, who he cleverly chipped as the goalkeeper came out to narrow the angles.
Malaga 0 Cadiz 2
Then in 38' Cesar almost gifts another one as he slips to the ground when he should have been comfortable with plenty of time. This time Sesma accepts the gift but his shot goes wide with Arnau stranded.
Then in 40' Cesar does it again, as he looks increasingly uncomfortable in the conditions and we were all saying 3-0 when Suarez picked up the loose ball 12 yards out but he put it just over.
We are praying for halftime and some improvement from Malaga,when Benjamin drives a free kick at goal, which Arnau did well to save.
Half time Malaga 0 Cadiz 2
Tapia does ring the changes at half time. Not surprisingly Cesar is taken off and replaced by Antonio Lopez. Jesus Gamez is also subbed as Morales comes on. So it's a completely new line-up for the second half, as Malaga go to a 4-4-2 formation (which we all believe is how the team should have started!)
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Gerardo, Litos, Alexis and Nacho; Gabriel, Juan Rodriguez, Edgar and Antonio Lopez; Salva and Morales.
It's all Malaga now as they start to press the Cadiz defence for the first time in the match. Cadiz for their part seem determined to hold onto their lead and just defend and play the second half out.
These tactics become quite clear as in 52' Armando in the Cadiz goal goes down unchallenged and has to receive several minutes treatment. Medina is substituted by Pavoni.
In 54' Antonio Lopez shows some trickery down the left wing and gets in a shot which curls just wide of the post. We were beginning to think this is it - Malaga are still in this game and with a little guile and some effort they could easily score the three goals which would give them a victory against a so-so team, who did not have a shot on goal during the entire second half.
In 57' Edgar breaks down the right, gets to the by-line and sends in a powerful cross. Antonio Lopez, lurking just inside the box connects with a great volley which Armando manages to punch out to his right wing. Enrique is there to try and control the ball and Antonio Lopez turns and runs towards him. They both go down in a heap and the referee runs across and flashes a yellow card at Antonio Lopez. Then, he brings out a red card and the new boy's home debut is over after only 13 minutes on the field. We can only surmise that it was Antonio Lopez who was the sub on the bench that was yellow carded in the first half and now he was being sent off for a second "bookable" offence. Malaga are down to 10 men for the second week running!
To his credit, Tapia did not retreat into damage limitation at this setback. Instead, he chose this time to introduce Bovio for his debut, taking off fellow countryman Gabriel, who had been ineffective on the right wing. This meant another restructuring of the formation, with Edgar moving to the left wing, Juan Rodriguez wide right and Bovio in the centre of midfield, in a still attacking 4-3-2 formation.
Big things are expected of Bovio, a stylish midfield playmaker and a former team-mate of Robinho, now at Real Madrid. But these circumstances were not the best for an introduction into Spanish football.
What followed was a number of Cadiz players going down in nothing fouls and looking dead, requiring several minutes of treatment. This playacting was intended to get the referee to send off more players, frustrate and infuriate Malaga's team and supporters and obviously waste time.
Full time Malaga 0 Cadiz 2
So a poor spectacle and Malaga's bad luck and bad run continue. With now 8 games since a win, Tapia's coat has moved to the shaky hook, with the President of Malaga CF, Senor Roldan, being moved to declare in the press during the week that he is still confident that Tapia can save the club from relegation.
The next few games are all against teams which Malaga should expect to get points from, but the manager will have to pick more attacking teams and somehow try to keep 11 men on the field to give them a chance.
We shall see next Sunday if there is any change in fortune when Celta Vigo come to town for the 18:00 hours kick-off. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 10:18 AM | Permalink