Malaga vs Levante
Crisis at La Roseleda? Having been thrashed last week at Camp Nou 4-0 by Barcelona, Malaga find themselves in nineteenth place in La Liga, (second bottom) occupying one of the three relegation places. The team has not scored a goal for over 500 minutes (Gerardo's sublime free kick against Real Betis in Sevilla on 31 October) and has not won a match in the last eight outings.
On top of this, we enter a stage in the season when the squad available for selection is diminished by injuries and suspensions. Last week started with only 10 first team players available, with injuries to Litos, Manu, Edgar, Romero, Gerardo, Valcarce and Luque requiring the attention of the physios. In defence, Juanito and Alexis are suspended after reaching 5 yellow cards, which means a first team debut for the giant 9' 3" Malaga "B" centre back, Cesar Navas. Edgar, Gerardo and Valcarce recovered sufficiently to start in this "must win" game, in a team which showed six changes from the side that began last week's humiliation to the runaway leaders in this season's title race, Barcelona. The team picked, in a more traditional 4-4-2 formation was:
Calatayud, Gerardo, Cesar Navas, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce, Edgar, Miguel Angel, Leko and Duda, Wanchope and Amoroso.
What of the opposition, Levante Union Deportiva? Valencia's "other" team, on whose ground Scotland played Spain in October, were La Segunda champions last season, winning promotion with Getafe and Numancia. Unlike their fellow newcomers, though, Levante have had a solid start to the season and have taken everybody by surprise with their attacking play, with pace throughout the team. Former German international superstar, Bernd Schuster, has gained much respect in his new role as manager, and his close season signings, including Ian Harte (Leeds United), Jan Mjallby (Celtic) and Sergio Garcia (Barcelona) have bolstered a side with no fewer than four former Malaga players in Juanma, Nacho, Sandro and Jesule. Their top scorer with 5 goals so far this season, Manchev, will require close watching and we were warned in the press to expect strong running from the winger, Ettien, who can operate down either wing.
Levante (4-4-2): Mora, Pinillos, Jesule, Culebres and Harte, Ettien, Rivera, Celestini and Nacho, Sergio Garcia and Manchev.
Malaga win the toss and elect to play towards the Fondo end in the first half. Wanchope makes an intervention at the kick off, runs down the left wing and finds Michel Angel in the centre, but the midfielder's shot is weak and is easily saved by Mora. A bright and encouraging start by Malaga.
But it's eight minutes before we see another meaningful attack. This time it is Edgar operating as a right winger, and he passes Harte with sheer pace and makes a great cross from the by-line to Amoroso, but the Brazilian is dispossessed and the danger is cleared.
In 15', Valcarce makes some space wide on the left to find the gold booted Amoroso, who again shows alertness, slipping the ball to Michel Angel, but the number 21's shot goes horribly wide.
Amoroso is involved in most of what is good in Malaga's play and he is rewarded the respect of three defenders each time he receives the ball.
The first attack by Levante is in 29' but it serves as a wake-up call when Ettien runs the length of the right wing and sends in a powerful cross to the waiting unmarked Sergio Garcia. Calatayud comes off his line and has to make an excellent one handed save to avert the danger.
In 32' Ian Harte is presented with a free kick opportunity just outside the box on the right hand side. His left footed shot beats the wall but Calatayud makes the save look easy.
The next minute it was Duda's turn at the other end, but his free kick just fails to make contact with the giant Cesar Navas's head, running in six yards out.
Miguel Angel becomes the first player booked in 38' after bringing down the Levante captain, Rivera, after the midfielder had left him standing.
The front two of Sergio Garcia and Manchev are having no joy with Malaga's defence, which is finding Fernando Sanz and new boy Cesar Navas in commanding form.
Just having said that, Levante almost score when a mix up between Gerardo and Calatayud finds the keeper stranded to allow Manchev a shot at the open goal. Captain Fantastic Fernando Sanz appears from nowhere to clear off the line.
In 41' Duda starts on a long run down the left but is chopped down by Rivera, who becomes Levante's first booking. From Duda's free kick, Mora punches the ball off Amoroso's head to clear.
Malaga come close to opening their account just on half time when Leko is slipped the ball by Amoroso. The Croatian's first shot is blocked, but he gets the rebound which he sends just over, with the crowd on their feet.
Half time 0-0
From the kick off, Wanchope makes a run down the right wing. He finds AMOROSO, but the Brazilian is forced to run along the eighteen yard line passing three defenders before finding space to shoot. What a shot! His powerful attempt is fired back across the goal and beats Mora at the far post. Great goal! A long time coming and the crowd goes bananas.
Malaga 1 Levante 0
In 50' Cesar Navas blots his copybook with a booking for blocking the run of Celestini, who looked to run straight into the totally tall-as-anything defender.
In 55' Malaga's confidence is starting to come back with slick one-touch passing movements. First Gerardo passes back to Calatayud, who plays the ball out to Cesar Navas. The big one in turn pushes it to Miguel Angel who finds Edgar wide on the right. The pacy Portuguese/Angolan runs deep into the Levante half before the good play is interrupted by a crashing foul from Jesule, for which Edgar has to receive treatment off the park.
In 59' Amoroso shines again with some brilliant footwork down the left wing before making the short pass to Leko, who has drifted forward into a scoring position. Unfortunately the ball goes under his feet and the Levante defence is able to make the clearance.
Levante are becoming more of an attacking force and Ettien is finding space wide right and making some strong runs down the wing. Valcarce is booked in the 61st minute as his frustration at not containing the winger forces a rash challenge. Captain Fernando Sanz is also booked for protesting and in a mini-flare-up, Levante right back Pinillos is also booked.
Levante pile on the pressure, looking for an equaliser, and the Malaga defence is put to the test. Celestini forces a fine save from Calatayud after 65' as the keeper has to dive full length to his left to smother the shot.
Ettien continues to find space on the right and all Levante's attacks are down this route, where the already booked defenders Valcarce, Fernando Sanz and Cesar Navas have to be careful.
After a sustained period of desperate defending, Duda eases the pressure with a great run down the left wing. Amoroso and Wanchope are waiting in the middle but the Portuguese winger elects to shoot straight at Mora instead.
In the 69' minute, Duda repeats the process. His lung bursting run outstrips the Levante defence and he cuts inside this time to give himself a better angle for the shot, but Mora is well-placed to make the save.
Schuster makes a change in 72' bringing on Reggi for the ineffective Sergio Garcia.
The next minute Duda has a chance to settle it from a free kick after Amoroso is brought down just outside the box, but the little winger's shot goes just over.
Schuster makes a double substitution in 79' with Jofre on for Nacho and Juanma on for the tiring Ettien.
Manzano makes his first substitution in 81' when Amoroso is brought off to a standing ovation from the Malaga support. Juan Rodriguez is brought on and he takes up an attacking position alongside Wanchope.
Malaga are now starting to hold on to the ball more in a possession game to let the time pass and hold on to their slender lead. In 87' Duda is replaced by Luque and in 90' Wanchope is taken off to give Malaga "B" striker Paco Estaban a few moments with the first team.
Full time Malaga 1 Levante 0
This win sees Malaga jump three places in the league and out of the relegation zone. Next Sunday they face a tough away game against the "Yellow Submarines" Villarreal, who are in UEFA Cup action this week. Then the following Wednesday, Real Sociedad visit La Roseleda for the final game of the year before the midseason break over Christmas and New Year.
Looking forward to it already, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.