Jornada 13: Malaga vs. Racing Ferrol
After last week's long trip north to Gijon, Malaga face Racing who have made possibly the longest footballing trip on mainland Spain from Ferrol, in Galicia, in the north west corner of the country to the most southerly city, Malaga, in the top leagues. Racing, promoted from last season's Segunda B for this season's competition in the Segunda, had a strong start to the season, with a particularly impressive away record, but have hit a patch of poor form recently, having not won in their last five games, stretching back to the end of September.
Malaga, on the other hand, top the table with 9 wins in 12 games and 27 points, the same number of points they accrued by the end of the first half of last season (21 games) and after last week's away win against third placed Sporting and a creditable draw in the Copa del Rey against First Division Racing Santander, they enter this game full of confidence, looking to keep the leadership of La Segunda. Malaga are forced to make a couple of changes from their habitual line-up, as right back Jesus Gamez is suspended and striker and top-scorer Baha, who was to be joining the Moroccan squad this weekend for two international matches, is out for four weeks with a shoulder injury after it was dislocated during the midweek cup match. Raul Gaitan, who has just recovered from a lengthy injury himself, makes his first appearance in the team in the league as a direct replacement for Jesus Gamez and Salva, also returning from injury, takes over from Baha up front.
Malaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Gaitan, Rosario, Weligton and Rossato; Carpintero; Paulo Jorge, Hidalgo, Apono and Eliseu; Salva.
It's a Saturday 18:30h kick off at La Rosaleda, the temperature is 16C and the crowd just under 12,000 (11,907) as Malaga win the toss and elect to defend the Fondo end (i.e. the goal behind which we sit) in the first half. Malaga are in their normal home strip of blue and white stripes, whilst Racing are playing in all-green.
Racing are known for their strong defensive play and counterattacking style, but it is they who start the brighter and come very close in 4' when left winger Lamatina runs past Gaitan and sends in a curling drive that just skids past the far post with the Malaga defence including Goitia static. It's all Racing in the opening exchanges as Malaga can't string any passes together and Weligton has to concede the first corner of the game in 8'. Salva, back defending, heads the resultant cross clear. Malaga almost score a spectacular goal in 13' when Racing keeper Queco, clearing a loose ball from outside his penalty area, hits the ball straight to Paulo Jorge in the centre circle. The Portuguese winger reacts quickly to send a high shot towards the goal. The ball is dipping nicely under the bar but Queco somehow manages to race back and tip the ball over to save his blushes. In 14' Gaitan, who has been having a torrid time dealing with Lamatina, is the first to be booked in the match for body-checking the winger. In 15' Racing go close again when Jaime tries an overhead kick from 12 yards which just goes wide. In 16' we have Malaga's second attempt of the game when Paulo Jorge, who seems to be sticking to the right wing channel more this game, whips in a cross which carries over to left winger Eliseu. Instead of heading home, the winger sticks out a leg and the shot goes wide. In 18' there is a bit of a stooshie after Carpintero sticks out a leg on the centre line to try and intercept a Racing pass. The ball carries all the way back to Goitia who picks it up under pressure from Racing striker Pereira. The referee immediately blows for a free kick for the goalkeeper picking up a pass-back! You can imagine the referee being surrounded by Malaga players protesting but an indirect free kick inside the penalty area is still the result. All Malaga's eleven players line up in their penalty box in front of an anxious Goitia, but amid a cacophony of whistles and jeers from the crowd, Racing waste the chance by blasting the ball well over the bar. After 25' we see Malaga's best move of the game so far. Weligton, the Brazilian centre back, sends a 40 yard pass wide right, as only Brazilians seem able to do and it's met perfectly by the strong running Paulo Jorge. The winger whips in a delicious cross for Hidalgo, who lets fly from 30 yards. It looks goal-bound but just at the last moment curls wide of the post.
In 30', a disaster for Gaitan and Malaga. The right back is at the left post all alone when he meets a hard drive across the goal from the right wing and puts it past Goitia for an own-goal, a goal which Racing probably deserve for their pressure to date. Malaga 0 Racing 1 From the kick off, the ball is easily gathered by Queco, who seems to dither with the ball. When Salva protests to the referee about the time wasting, he is booked. In 32', Jaime is booked for a studs-up tackle on Eliseu. In 40' Gaitan is again beaten easily on Racing's left wing by wily striker Pereira who curls in his shot which slips into the goal at the far post. Malaga 0 Racing 2 It's not in the script but Racing thoroughly deserve their two-goal lead as they have kept their composure and their passing has been along the ground and accurate, whereas Malaga's balls have mostly been up-and-under, hit-and-hope efforts. In 42' Malaga almost make an immediate reply when Paulo Jorge, who's had his best game in a Malaga shirt this season, again finds Hidalgo with a fine cross from the right. The midfielder does everything right, heading down, but the ball bounces over the bar. Malaga go all out for the first time this half to try and peg one back before half time.
In 44' Eliseu finds Salva near the penalty spot from the left wing and the striker's header is headed off the line by Jaime. As Queco and Paulo Jorge challenge for the loose ball, it's Malaga's winger who gets there first and turns the ball back into the danger zone to Carpintero. The defensive midfielder sends in a powerful drive at the empty goal but the ball comes off Hidalgo's head and goes over. In 45' Salva sends Paulo Jorge away again down the right wing. Again the winger finds Hidalgo up in support. The attacking midfielder shoots sending Queco the wrong way but the ball comes of the keeper's feet and goes clear!
Half-time Malaga 0 Racing 2
Malaga are 2-0 down at half-time and some radical changes are needed to get themselves back in the game. Gaitan looks lost at right back and somebody is needed to calm things down and spread the ball around on the ground in midfield if Malaga are to get back into the game.
Muniz must have read my thoughts, because he made two changes at the start of the second half. They were much more radical than the changes I would have made though! Right enough, off was Gaitan after a miserable first half performance where he had responsibility for both Racing's goals, but also off was the other full back Rossato!
On came Sandro, the little creative midfielder and Gerardo, the boy wonder winger from the Malaga B team, who had shone in preseason and in the Copa games with his pace and direct running. The only offputting thing about Gerardo is his striking resemblance to Ferg, a "striker" from a past Brechin City under-16's side and now married to Alison Dean! So Muniz reshuffled his team with three at the back, with Carpintero dropping back to join Rosario and Weligton. The midfield area looked a bit crowded with Apono slightly behind Paulo Jorge, Gerardo, Sandro and Eliseu and Hidalgo slightly advanced to support Salva in a 3-6-1 formation!
Well, with seven midfielders on, including Carpintero, there should be some improvement in this area of the park! It's a radical and bold move from Muniz, but at 0-2 down at home, needs must. Right from the restart, Malaga take control of game and occupy Racing's half. The crowd sense the change in attitude and style i.e. all-out attack and the noise levels in the ground rise to eleven! In 47' Hidalgo, who seems to relish his new-found freedom, is completely on his own when he receives a pass from Paulo Jorge, but he snatches at it and blasts over. Malaga keep up the pressure egged on by the crowd. In 48' Paulo Jorge sends in another excellent cross which Queco can only tip over for a corner. PJ's corner finds Weligton but the Brazilian's header is deflected over. The resultant corner is cleared into the stands. In 58' Eliseu wins a corner. Rosario blasts in a shot but it's deflected for a corner. PJ finds Salva with the kick but the striker's header drops wide of the post.
It seems a tale of woe, but at this point we did not think that the game was lost despite the number of missed opportunities. The enthusiasm of the crowd and the noise seemed to lift the players and keep them focussed. Then the breakthrough in 61'. Gerardo goes down in the box, just inside the "D". We are watching the ball, thinking no more of it, but no, the referee has stopped the game and is pointing to the spot. He's given a penalty! Well, Malaga have had more obvious penalty appeals this season and probably every other season, but no matter. There seems to be a debate about who should take the kick with both Salva and Hidalgo standing over the ball. But it's HIDALGO who takes the kick and sends it expertly just inside the left post. GOOOOAAALLL!!!! Malaga 1 Racing 2 It's no more than Malaga have deserved since the restart, with their unstinting pressure on the Racing defence and despite it's origins, the goal gives everybody heart. Racing immediately bring on a substitute to strengthen their midfield area, which has been totally dominated by Malaga's six midfielders. In 66' the best move of the match and many matches. Eliseu is running with the ball down the left wing. His way is blocked by several defenders, so he sends the ball way across the park to Paulo Jorge on the right wing. The Portuguese gets to the by-line and sends in a powerful cross, which HIDALGO heads brilliantly past Queco into the net for the equaliser. GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! And what a goal! The crowd are going tojo at this point. Malaga 2 Racing 2 Racing have no answer to Malaga's new formation and the power and drive of the home team is inspiring the crowd to near hysteria. Racing's bench are not happy with the referee and after an altercation on the touchline, the visiting manager is sent to the stand. In 67' further remonstrations from the Racing bench sees one of the substitutes receive a red card and he is also sent to the dressing room! Malaga keep up the pressure, looking for the winner.
In 70' Gerardo, who is proving a thorn to the Racing defence with his direct running, is brought down near the by-line just outside the box. Paulo Jorge's free kick finds Rosario but the centre back's drive is deflected for another corner which Queco gathers on his line. In 73', another booking for Racing when Ceballos blocks Paulo Jorge on another run down the wing. The winger is injured and needs some attention. In 76' another substitution for Racing with brick shithouse Keita coming on for Jaime to further bolster Racing's midfield. Keita almost makes his mark immediately with a dipping long range effort which Goitia just tips over. In 78' another fright for Malaga when Weligton passes straight to the dangerous Pereira. The little number 10 runs at goal and his shot is just stopped by Goitia. In 79' Gerardo sends in another superb cross across the six yard line, just needing the slightest touch, but there are no takers. In 81' Rosario is booked for a feet-up tackle and a corner is conceded as a result of the free kick. For the first time this half the crowd is strangely silent but the danger is cleared. In 83' Paulo Jorge, who has not recovered fully from that earlier tackle, is replaced by Peragon. The Portuguese winger is given a standing ovation for his contribution. With Peragon on, Gerardo moves to the right wing, Hidalgo drops back into midfield and the little substitute striker moves up front alongside Salva. The next minute Salva collects a pass from Hidalgo in the centre of Racing's half. He could run at goal (if he had any pace) but instead elects to pass left to Eliseu, who is running down the wing in support. The winger seems to have a shooting opportunity himself, but instead elects to send in a hard drive across the 6 yard line. Hidalgo and GERARDO are both chasing in but it's the youngster who gets there first to stab the ball home. GOOOAAALLLL - the young winger has certainly made his mark on the game and is shouldered high by his team-mates as they celebrate the goal. Queco rushes out to the centre circle to protest to the referee, claiming that the goal was offside and was lucky not to be booked. Malaga 3 Racing 2 In past games, Malaga would have shut up shop and played the remaining minutes out, but the noise of the crowd seemed to carry them on a surf of pressure and in 88' Peragon and Eliseu's slick interpassing provides a chance for Salva, but Queco just gets there first. 4' are added on and Racing look for the equaliser.
A free kick given away by Eliseu on the centre line provides Pereira with another chance and forces a good save from Goitia. In 94' Sandro finds Gerardo wide on the right. He takes it to the by-line and passes to PERAGON. The little striker coolly controls the ball before swivelling round to prod the ball home from six yards to put the icing on the cake and end a sensational comeback for Malaga.
Full time: Malaga 4 Racing 2
A pulsating game full of incident and all 6 goals scored in front of us in the Fondo goal. An amazing recovery with a bold change of tactics and team from Muniz at half time when Malaga were struggling 0-2 behind. A fantastic result which keeps them top of the league for another week. Brilliant. Next week, the long journeys continue with another trip north to the Bay of Biscay and San Sebastian, when Malaga travel to play former Fulham manager Chris Coleman's Real Sociedad. The Basques were expected to bounce back and dominate the table after their relegation last season from the First Division and will provide another stern test for the malaguistas. Unfortunately, although to me a glamour game, this will be the first occasion this season when a Malaga match is not shown live on Spanish TV. However, never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will deliver a report on the match to keep you informed of their progress through what has so far been a very entertaining season.