Another glorious Sunday afternoon on the Costa del Sol. It was so warm and sunny that, during the afternoon, some holidaymakers from northern Europe were seen swimming in the Mediterranean. Not the locals though! Us soft southerners need a little bit higher sea temperature before we indulge in such exercises.
At La Rosaleda, the scene was set for another league match, the last of the first half of the 42 match season. The visitors are from Castellon, a team just above the four relegation places and anxious for points. Malaga are also anxious for points as they continue to occupy the nether regions of the centre of the table, with the top teams slowly disappearing over the horizon. Two home fixtures back to back providing six points would indeed make a significant difference to their fortunes.
Malaga have lost the services of Calleja for three weeks after his injury last week at Cadiz. Counago, who can only play 42' before getting injured and goes out for three weeks, got injured after 42' against Zaragoza in the cup-tie in midweek and is not available. Hidalgo is also not available due to suspension. So Muniz is forced to make some changes to his normal first choice eleven.
Schurrer is back from injury, but his deputy in defence, Armando, has been playing well alongside Jesule and the youngster keeps his place. With Calleja injured, would there be a place for Ernesto, who played really well against Zaragoza on the left wing? No, of course not! What about Ristic? He played wide right in midweek and scored the winning goal. Of course not! Well, then, what about Francis, the young midfield star who was being talked up to be the next Zidane by Spain's national daily sports newspapers? Yes, he gets a place!
Malaga (4-1-4-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Armando, Jesule and Valcarce; Silva; Perico, Sandro, Francis and Jonaton Valle; Salva.
It's a strange looking midfield as although Jonaton Valle has a preference for using his left foot, he is clearly not a winger nor comfortable playing wide. Also, Perico is the most left footed player I've seen since Jim Baxter and there he is on the right wing!?! Still it's a chance Zinedine Francis to show what he is capable of.
Castellon, who are playing in Dundee's old strips, kick off defending the Fondo goal in the first half. Their goalkeeper, Oliva, looks remarkably like Arnau in appearance, and the similarities did not stop there as the game progressed! It's Malaga who take the initiative right from the start and when a free kick is awarded to the home team out on the left in the first minute, Sandro finds Salva in the box. The burly striker's header comes off the post. Silva is first to the rebound but Oliva gets down to smother the ball on the line. Great start!
In 8' Francis marks his first start with a booking after sticking out a hand to stop the ball passing him.
In 9' Sandro, the little playmaker who is fast becoming the new Duda, receives the ball in his own penalty area and as if daydreaming passes the ball across the box to Castellon's main striker, Nacor. He's surprised but delighted to get a chance for nothing and blasts the ball at the goal, where Arnau has to look lively to tip the ball over.
In 15' the referee gives a foul against Jesule for what seemed a perfectly good tackle on the edge of his box. Aurelio takes the shot, but Malaga, who have all eleven men in the box defending, block the attempt through Salva.
In 18' and not for the first time, Jonaton Valle is floored and a free kick awarded about 25 yards out. Sandro and Jonaton Valle line up over the ball but the former takes the kick and sends it just over the bar, with Oliva taking no chances and helping it over with the palm of his hand.
In 20' Malaga keep up the pressure and Jonaton Valle tries from 30 yards. But his effort is so feeble it barely reaches the goalkeeper.
Oliva is very much like Arnau. He was obviously trained by the same goalkeeping coach. His kicking out is in fact worse than Arnau's as the ball generally goes into touch, but his lack of confidence in handling and going for cross balls have the familiar Arnau trademarks. So we are hopeful, as we sit behind the keeper, that Malaga should be able to find a way past him without too much difficulty. What Oliva does have in common with Arnau which is positive (for him) are quick reactions to snap shots.
This is demonstrated in 25' when Salva is brought down in a similar position to the previous free kick 25 yards out. Again Sandro and Jonaton Valle are hovering over the ball. This time it's the latter who takes the kick and Oliva makes a fine save to stop the ball on the line at his right hand post.
Malaga have had some close chances and are maintaining the pressure on the visitors. We feel it is only a matter of time before a goal is conceded.
In 28' Rodri is booked for a two footed tackle on Sandro. The crowd around us thought that the tackle should have been a straight red.
In 30' left back Baigorri is booked for scything down Jesus Gamez who was overlapping down the right wing. The young full back has to go off the field to receive treatment. Again there are mutterings of a straight red for that tackle. Sandro takes the free kick, but in true Duda style puts the ball over.
Do you remember Duda? He played left wing for some of last season and went to Sevilla on a Bosman transfer last summer. He always looked good on the ball, but his crosses and passes were most often disappointing and his free kicks and corners never seemed to pose any threat. For Duda, now read Sandro.
In 33' Salva runs into the box collecting a pass from Valcarce and is bundled off the ball. Down goes the striker, whilst looking for the referee's reaction. The reaction? No reaction.
In 34' Malaga's best opportunity so far in open play. Sandro is free in the middle of the box and receives the ball from the left. What to do? Shoot of course, but no, the wee man panics and looks for another option. The other option is Francis who is in the box beside him, but in a worse shooting position. However, Francis is given the ball. He seems surprised by this (as are we all) and at first it looked like his first touch was going to let him down. But the young midfielder keeps his nerve and swaps the ball to his other foot to try and get a shot in. Of course the element of surprise has gone by this time and the defenders are closing in. However, Francis's shot curls towards the far post and Oliva has to dive to get down and smother the attempt.
In 37' Perico is making a run down the right wing when Aurelio, standing on his own, goes down like he's been shot. The Castellon defenders howl at Perico to put the ball out of play and the young winger hesitates before doing so. But this hesitation infuriates the Castellon players who now crowd around Perico in a minor skirmish. Meanwhile Aurelio is stretchered off only to come running back onto the field two minutes later to howls and whistles of the crowd. This falling down injured practice becomes a recurring feature of the game from this point on as the visitors patently set out their stall to get a draw and waste as much time as possible. Castellon were quite "good" at this tactic, but not as "good" as Osasuna last season in La Liga. It is very frustrating to watch and difficult for the referees to manage except by adding on extra stoppage minutes at the end of the game.
In 43' Perico, who has had a very quiet first half, suddenly bursts into the box with the ball. He's not properly in control of the ball but somehow manages to get past three defenders and still have the ball at his feet. The defence opens up in front of him and he tries a shot, but it hits the trailing leg of team-mate Salva and goes out for a goalkick.
Half-time Malaga 0 Castellon 0
The giant scoreboard advises that 11,270 spectators are in the stadium for today's game.
In 46' Salva is booked after colliding with Oliva after Jonaton Valle had sent him chasing a ball for a one on one with the goalie.
Then in 49' almost another disaster in defence for Malaga when Armando does what no Malaga player should ever do - pass back to Arnau. The bewildered goalkeeper as ever panics in these situations and swings wildly at the ball to try and clear it. However, predictably he hits it straight at Nacor. This is the Castellon striker's second gift pass of the game and two more than he's received all game from his own players. He tries to lob Arnau who can only watch as the ball passes over his head and onto the roof of the net - whew!
In 53' Malaga make a double substitution. The ineffective Perico and Francis are replaced by Edgar and teenage sensation, Popo, who was born and brought up in Torre del Mar. Indeed there was a new banner on display in the Tribuna stand with the Torre del Mar standard and colours stating "Torre del Mar con Popo"!
In 54' Salva receives the ball in the box with his back to the goal. He swivels and shoots but the ball goes just wide of the post.
In 63' Xavi More is booked for pulling back Jonaton Valle as it becomes increasingly clear that Castellon's tactics are purely destructive and looking for the draw.
In 64' Xavi More again pulls back Jonaton Valle. Will it be a second yellow and red card? No.
In 66' Sandro gets a shot in on goal which Oliva has to save.
In 67' Arnau comes out of his box (very unusual) as Nacor bears down on him. The striker lobs the ball over Arnau's head and the ball comes back off the bar! Too close for comfort.
The next minute sees Edgar race into the box at the other end. He crashes into Oliva, who gets the free kick.
In 69' Natalio is booked for pulling back Jesus Gamez.
In 70' Valcarce then Jonaton Valle make good progress down the left wing. The ball is crossed to Salva who blazes well over.
In 83' Arnau dives full stretch across his six yard box to push a cross away for a corner. This is a bit dramatic and should have been an easy take for the keeper.
In 84' Sandro takes a free kick from near the centre line. Armando is in the box and tries to flick it on with his head but Oliva gathers easily.
In 85' Valcarce runs into the box from the left. His cross strikes the arm of a defender. Loud appeals for a penalty - the referee says no.
In 87' Oliva has to look sharp again after Popo chases a long ball down the right wing. He manages to keep it in and with two cross-overs gets past two defenders before sending in a powerful cross. Oliva takes the ball off Salva's head.
At 90' the fourth official's board shows 5' added on.
In 93' Salva has to go off after another clash with Oliva. The striker returns with his head heavily bandaged.
In 94' Oliva becomes the last man to be booked in the game for taking too long to take a goal kick.
Full time Malaga 0 Castellon 0
A disappointing result after Malaga dominated most of the game with very little that the defence didn't cope with. However, Muniz is going to have to change these promising displays into victories and why not start next week when Hercules comes to town. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!
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