Match Reports

Sunday 6th November 2005, 1700h. It's Malaga versus one of the top clubs in Spain over the past few years - Deportivo La Coruna. The team from Galicia on the northern west coast of Spain (north of Portugal and at the point where the Bay of Biscay meets the Atlantic) had a poor season last year by their standards - not in Europe and in the bottom half of the table. A new season, a new manager (Joaquin Caparros who moved from Sevilla) and a strong team with Spanish strikers Deigo Tristan and Valeron supplied by the likes of Duscher and de Guzman in midfield, with strong central defenders Juanma and Coloccini in front of goalkeeper Molina.
Malaga have played two matches since they thrashed local rivals Betis 5-0 at La Roseleda. They played Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the game brought forward to give Spain a chance in the World Cup Qualifiers Play-offs this coming week. After 79 minutes the score was 0-0 and the commentator on Spectrum FM was saying that the draw was looking the fairest result on the day - an excellent result for the away team. Then Juan Rodriguez took the ball from Ronaldinho in the box to put it behind for a corner. But wait, the wee Brazilian magician falls over in a heap. What will the referee do? Penalty! In Spain, they show such decisions at least 10 times, from every conceivable angle. No matter which angle, there was no contact, it should not have been a penalty. The wee Brazilian steps up to take the penalty and puts the ball past Arnau, to which the commentator said, " Well that's a travesty. The score is "Cheats 1 Malaga 0"". Malaga went all out to get the equaliser, leaving them a little exposed at the back and the Swedish magician, Henrick Larsson, scored an individual goal in the 88th minute after running from half way to make the final score Cheats 2 Malaga 0.
Last week was another away match against Real Zaragoza. According to the reports, Malaga seemed quite happy to play for a draw and that is what they came away with. 1-1 with Edgar netting Malaga's equaliser.
After playing 4-2-3-1 since he took over as manager, Tapia has found that this season, with the players at his disposal, he has had more success with two strikers up front in a 4-4-2 formation. With Romero still out injured and Duda out in the cold for refusing to sign a new contract, the team lines took a now familiar look.
Deportivo (4-2-3-1): Molina; Hector, Coloccini, Juanma and Capdevilla; Scaloni and Duscher; de Guzman, Valeron and Munitis; Tristan.
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Alexis, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Edgar, Juan Rodriguez and Nacho; Salva and Counago.

Depor captain Scaloni won the toss and elected to kick into the Fondo end (our end) where the low sun may well have caused some problems to goalkeeper Arnau. The in form keeper was an immediate worry for us fans though as his right thigh was heavily strapped up. We were right to worry as Arnau did not take a goal kick all game (this was left to captain Fernando Sanz) and he elected to throw the ball out rather than kick.
Depor were first to show in the very early stages of the game and had the ball in the net in the first minute but the whistle had long gone for offside.
Tristan is first to have a shot on goal in 5' after Alexis had brought him down just outside the box. Scaloni's free kick found the big striker in the clear but he shot wide.
It's end to end stuff now and in 7' Juan Rodriguez takes a free kick just outside the "D". He strikes the ball so powerfully and the defender who blocked the effort had to receive some minutes of treatment after being pole-axed.
The next minute and we're all on our feet as Malaga go close. Edgar crosses from the right but it's too high for Salva. Left winger Nacho is in the clear and the ball drop nicely for him and he strikes for goal, but a defender gets in the way and it's deflected for a corner. Nacho takes an inswerving corner which Molina almost punches into his own goal.
Depor have a similar strip to Malaga with blue and white stripes so are in their away strip. It's a yucky pale green colour and it's difficult to pick them out against the colour of the grass.
Malaga start to take a grip of the game and dominate midfield. Valcarce is given a chance for glory when after good passing movement down the right wing, Edgar pulls the ball back for the little full back who standing in the clear. Valcarce tries to melt it and goes well over.
In 14' Malaga win a free kick just left of centre about 20 yards out. Usually Malaga's free kicks come to nothing when the taker goes for goal. However this time Gerardo chips the ball over the wall to Salva on the penalty spot, but Molina spots the danger and rushes out to smother the ball.
The next minute and Molina has to make another fine save, this time of the head of giant centre back Cesar who got on the end of the overlapping Alexis's cross from the right.
Nacho is finding space down the left and finds Salva in the box with his pass. But Salva has mistimed his run and has to turn to collect the ball. He pirouettes and shoots but his shot is blocked.
Counago has been posted missing so far, which is a pity as crosses from right or left are finding Salva's head, but his co-striker is never in a position to capitalise.
In 23' Nacho again supplies Salva with an opportunity. We are on our feet and dancing already, but somehow the ball is kept out.
It's the Nacho show as the little winger beats three men before releasing the overlapping Valcarce down the left. The full back has a go, but his fine effort swerves wide of the far post.
It's 32' before we see Depor back up our end in attack. The impressive and busy Munitis finds some space 20 yards out and takes a shot which Arnau helps past for a corner.
In 34' Scaloni is the first booking of the game for diving on the centre circle after a tackle from Gerardo. This prompts the stadium shout of "loco, loco" around the ground.
After all the pressure Malaga have been mounting there was a heart stopping moment in the 38th minute when Arnau failed to gather a cross cleanly whilst being pressured by Tristan. The ball bounces out of Arnau's hands in the six yard box and bounces back of Tristan back into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.
Just before halftime and we thought the ball was in again for Malaga. Edgar swung a dangerous ball into a crowded box after a corner. It was bagatelle with the ball striking and bouncing off several players as Malaga desperately tried to put the ball away and the Depor defence desperately tried to clear. Molina eventually got his hands to it and the danger was cleared.
Half time 0-0
Malaga start the second half slowly and it's Depor who look the most hungry in the opening moments of the second half. Malaga escape in 48' when a shot from Tristan hits the left post, travels along the line and hits the right post before Arnau picks it up.
In 52' Gerardo, whose had a quiet game by his normal standards, picks up the ball on half way and spots Salva's run. The big striker gets between the two centre backs Juanma and Coliccini, who have looked pretty solid up to this point. Juanma waits for Coliccini and vice versa while Salva's presence panics them. The ball lands in front of NACHO who is quickest to react and he thumps the ball delightfully past Molina to put the home team ahead.
Malaga 1 Deportivo 0
There is change of tactic now for Depor who change gear and become more attack minded. Immediately after the kick off Valeron shoots wide when it would have been easier to score.
With Depor pushing up looking for an equaliser, Malaga manage to catch them on the break with Edgar's pace down the right and Nacho down the left. Alexis finds Counago who in turn slips a great through ball for the run of Nacho. The wee winger sends in a perfect cross for Salva's head but he heads just over with Molina beaten.
In 60' Depor are again caught on the break and again Salva has a free header with which he should have hit the target. Cesar has another free header in 63' from Gerardo's corner but he tries too hard to direct it and it goes wide.
Deportivo try something different and bring on two substitutes in 64' Off go the lacklustre Duscher and captain Scaloni for Sergio and youth team player Carril.
Diminutive winger Munitis moves inside for Carril to take the wing and the number 11 starts to impose himself on the game. Munitis finds Tristan ghosting into the penalty box with a fine cross but the effort is straight at Arnau who gathers easily.
In 72' it's the second booking of the game when Hector is booked for a frustrated looking tackle on Nacho who has shown him clean heels all evening.
In 75' there is a strong appeal for penalty when Salva is dumped in the box by Coliccini. While the Malaga players protest, young substitute Carril hares off down the right wing with the ball. Gerardo tries to keep up with him but knows he cannot tackle from behind as the youngster enters the penalty box. VALERON has tracked the run and gleefully accepts the pass from the substitute and strokes the equaliser home.
Malaga 1 Deportivo 1
Tapia's response is to bring on three substitutes: Hidalgo, Morales and Pina on for Salva, Counago and the limping Valcarce. Nacho goes to left back and youth team winger Pina takes up a berth wide on the left.
Depor's response is to replace their striker Tristan with centre back Cesar, as they seem to be content with a draw.
The game kinda fizzled out like a damp squib (token Guy Fawkes reference) so with no more goal mouth action, the game ended a draw.
Full time Malaga 1 Deportivo 1

Next match is another home game on the 20 November with the international weekend next weekend. The visitors that day will be travelling down from San Sebastian, (also on the Bay of Biscay and the capital of the Basque Country) Real Sociedad. Malaga will be hoping that they can go one better against them and record a second home win of the season. Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 3:48 PM | Permalink

Over a number of seasons in Spain, four teams have emerged as the strongest and most consistent, winning the League Championship and featuring in the Champion's League - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Deportivo.
The team from La Coruna, a busy port way up in the north western extremity of the country, where the Bay of Biscay meets the Atlantic Ocean and which must represent one of the longest journeys between teams in La Liga, has had a settled side for many years, rare in football these days. Many of their players, including their manager, Irureta, have been around for a long time, including the former Brazilian international, Mauro Silva, who at 37 is still turning out world class performances. Also in their team, there are four current Spanish internationals in Sergio, Victor, Valeron and Luque, with the Uruguayan striker, Pandiani, their top scorer so far this season and since replacing Roy Maakay, when he left for Bayern Munich. Also impressing this season is their right back and captain, Manuel Pablo, whose pace and tackling shone like a beacon in Deportivo's midweek Champion's League match at Anfield against Liverpool. Formidable opponents then, whom Malaga have not beaten since season '99-'00. Irureta is reportedly interested in signing Malaga's centreback, Juanito, but the Malaga-born player looks set to sign a three year deal with his home town team in the coming weeks.
Malaga's last game was away to Athletic Bilboa, which they lost 1-0 to a goal conceded early in the first half from a well taken free kick from Yeste, which was deflected past Calatayud. Injuries to Giejo and Amoroso (although the Brazilian is hopeful for a return to the team in time for next week's game away to Betis) meant that Wanchope was up front on his own and he scored what proved to be a good goal from video evidence. The referee gave it, pointing to the centre spot, only for the farside assistant to flag that the goal should be disallowed as Wanchope had barged the goalkeeper. The referee then cancelled the goal and awarded a free kick instead. However, the replay showed that the ball was already over the goal line before Wanchope made contact with the keeper in his follow-through. A sare one!
Malaga's line-up was an unusual (for them) 4-5-1 formation, including Romero as "anchor" in front of the back four and Leko supporting Wanchope in attack, in a more advanced role for the Croatian midfielder. Team: Calatayud, Gerardo, Fernando Sanz, Juanito, Valcarce, Edgar, Miguel Angel, Romero, Leko, Duda and Wanchope.
Deportivo play 4-2-3-1 Team: Molina, Pablo, Andrade, Cesar, Capdevilla, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Victor, Valeron, Luque and Pandiani.
Malaga kick off in perfect conditions for football. It's 8 o'clock on a Saturday evening in late October and it's 25C and no appreciable wind. From the start the home side look lively with good passing movements from the three central midfielders, Romero, Leko and Miguel Angel causing Deportivo concern. A telling pass from Miguel Angel from the right wing found Leko in the "D" in only six minutes. There was a groan from the crowd as Leko elected to pass the ball to WANCHOPE instead of taking a shot himself, but the Costa Rican international, who recently scored a hat-trick for his country against Canada, made no mistake from six yards. 1-0.
Deportivo were playing high up the field, operating the offside trap successfully and were closing down very quickly every time a Malaga player was on the ball. From very early on in the game it was clear that their main threat up front was to be through the pace and skill of Luque on the left wing and in 11 minutes the winger came close with a rasping shot which Calatayud was happy to see go wide.
In 16 minutes, Wanchope received a ball from Romero just inside Deportivo's half and started a run through the inside right channel. He is a tall player and looks slightly ungainly, but he has good feet and excellent control and he swept past four defenders before releasing the ball to Leko, again lurking in the "D". This time he elected to shoot with great effect as the ball crashed into the net. But our celebrations were short-lived as the referee had already blown for offside.
Malaga were enjoying the best of the play at this time, with Romero running the show in midfield from his position in front of the defence, spraying long and short accurate passes to his more advanced team mates.
In 24 minutes, Fernando Sanz became the first booking of the game for a foul on Luque, as the game became bogged down in midfield. With both defences pushing up, there were 20 players around the centre circle at times. Sanz will miss next week's match at Betis after reaching five cards so far this season.
In 34 minutes, Edgar's pace, from a Miguel Angel pass, brought him into a shooting position, but he hit the side netting.
All Malaga's forward moves were going down the right flank as Manuel Pablo stifled the threat from Duda down Malaga's left.
In 38 minutes, Duda took a free kick from the left wing. Instead of putting the ball into the crowded penalty area, he elected to hook the ball back to Gerardo, standing alone about 25 yards out, in what looked like a training round ploy. However, Gerardo's effort was high and wide.
In 40 minutes, Miguel Angel conceded a free kick for a foul on the impressive Luque 30 yards from goal, as Deportivo sought the equaliser. Luque's direct free kick beat the wall but Calatayud was well placed to make the save.
In a similar position, two minutes later, Valcarce conceded a free-kick, but this time Luque's effort soared over the bar.
Half time Malaga 1 Deportivo 0
Malaga started brightly on the resumption with good runs from Miguel Angel and Leko providing openings up front and exposing the Deportivo defence, but no danger to the goal.
In 51 minutes, Miguel Angel was the second Malaga player to be booked for a foul on Luque after being wrong-footed by a pass from Valcarce got him in a fankle.
In 54 minutes, Romero intercepted a through ball and made the short pass to Leko whose strong run through the middle caused some panic in the Deportivo defence. He passed it out to Edgar on the right wing whose strong cross was met well by Miguel Angel's head and goalkeeper Molina needed two attempts to bring the ball down and smother it.
In 56 minutes, Gerardo was booked for a foul on Luque, wrapping his arms around the winger and stopping his progress when in full flight.
Two minutes later, a great chance for Malaga as Leko finds Wanchope in space. The big striker broke through to be one on one with Molina but his carefully placed shot went inches wide of the far post.
In 62 minutes, Romero became the next Malaga man booked, for a foul on .......... Luque!
With Malaga on top and Deportivo struggling to make an impression up front, Irureta brought on veteran striker Fran for centre back Cesar.
In 68 minutes, for the first time in the game, Duda eludes Manuel Pablo down the left and his cross was met by Miguel Angel in the clear. His powerful shot had Molina well beaten but the ball came crashing back off the crossbar.
In 69 minutes, Rodriguez was brought on for Leko as a straight replacement in midfield.
In 72 minutes, Wanchope should have tied things up for Malaga when Edgar's right wing cross presented him with a free header. His effort again went wide though and the lanky striker put his head in his hands as he knew he should at least have been on target.
A minute later Irureta again signalled his intent by bringing on out of form striker Tristan for full back Capdevilla. Duda was replaced by Malaga's Luque at the same time.
Then in 80 minutes, the tiring Wanchope, alone in attack for Malaga, was replaced by right winger Manu, forcing the home team to make a number of positional changes with Edgar taking up the striker's role in the centre.
But the old master Irureta's changes to Deportivo were more telling as they came more into the game and started to threaten again and again. In 80 minutes the impressive Valeron was just wide after a superb run from another attacking substitute, right winger Munitis, who had come on for Victor.
Malaga's Luque became his side's fifth booking for a foul on Tristan as the big striker was making an impact up front. From the free kick, Tristan's effort hit the side netting when we all thought it was in.
Then in 85 minutes, Deportivo's pressure paid off as TRISTAN's head met a Valeron cross at the far post which Calatayud looked to have got a hand to, but to no avail.
1-1
Deportivo went all out for the winner as Malaga looked tired. In 87 minutes the dangerous Tristan came close again with another header from a pass from Luque on the left.
In the last minute, Manu was dispossessed in the Deportivo penalty box, who swung quickly into counter attack, ending with a Luque shot across the goal which we were all grateful to see go wide.
Full time Malaga 1 Deportivo 1
A draw probably a fair result in a game that could have gone either way.
Next week Malaga are away to local rivals Real Betis in Sevilla, for which we intend to make the two hour journey with my son, Denis, who arrives in Spain on Thursday for short holiday.
The next home game is on weekending 6/7 November against Real Madrid.
Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by hodgers at 9:31 AM | Permalink