Match Reports

Today's visitors are Numancia, sitting one point behind Malaga in second place in the Segunda. They boast the most goals scored in the league with the league's top scorer, Brit, with 6 goals in the first 10 games. And they are in little run of form having won three and drawn one in the past month, whereas Malaga have stuttered with two wins and two defeats. After the last three disappointing performances from his team, Muniz decides to introduce an additional midfielder, Apono, at the expense of a striker, Salva, who sits on the bench. Also left winger Eliseu gets a start at the expense of Calleja and Paulo Jorge returns on the right wing. These changes are encouraging because with a beefed up midfield, the forwards should have better service compared to previous weeks (i.e. none). We are in particular looking for a better performance from Hidalgo, who has been swamped in midfield. With Apono beside him, there should be more space for him to be more creative and support the lone striker, Baha.

Malaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Jesus Gamez, Rosario, Weligton and Rossato; Carpintero; Paulo Jorge, Hidalgo, Apono and Eliseu; Baha.

It's a 12:00 noon kick with the game being shown live on Canal+. Some 14,750 spectators turned up to see the top of the table clash, in 25C November sunshine. Malaga lose the toss and defend the Gol end.
But in the first minute, Jesus Gamez and Paulo Jorge combine well down the right to release Hidalgo running into the box. Visiting goalkeeper Jacobo has to react quickly to take the ball from Hidalgo's feet. In 3' Hidalgo finds Paulo Jorge wide on the right. The Portuguese winger puts in a dangerous cross into the box, which the Numancia defence can only clear to Eliseu, waiting 30 yards out, but the left winger pulls his shot well wide. It's an impressive start from Malaga - they are fit, strong and maintaining a quick tempo. Their passing is quick and slick and Numancia are being pinned back in their own half. In 14' Paulo Jorge beats his own previous record for collecting a booking (18') when he is booked for a feet-up sliding tackle. The free kick curves in towards Goitia who punches clear. In 16' Hidalgo puts Baha clean through into the box. The Moroccan is about to pull the trigger when he is upended from behind. A clear penalty!? No says the referee!! In 17' Weligton attacks a Paulo Jorge free kick but his effort flies over the bar. In 19' Eliseu is fouled wide left on the touchline. Paulo Jorge takes it short to Rossato but the Brazilian miskicks his shot and it is easily cleared. It's been all Malaga, with poor finishing denying them the lead their play deserves. In 23' Paulo Jorge takes yet another corner, which falls at Weligton's feet. The Brazilian centre back shoots - straight at Jacobo, who gathers easily. In 25' Malaga come closest yet. Hidalgo creates space around his feet for a shot. It's heading for the top corner and is only inches over with Jacobo beaten. In 27' Hidalgo, who has been more like his old self, tries an overhead kick from 6 yards but his shot is blocked. In 29' Eliseu shows some ball skills to get past his marker and gives Apono a great chance from 30 yards, but the midfielder's attempt is well wide. Malaga continue to dominate and Numancia's defenders are reduced to clearing anywhere, mostly into the stands. In 34' Jesus Gamez pushes the ball to Baha. The striker shoots powerfully and Jacobo has to make a great save to keep the scores level. In 35' Apono is hacked down 30 yards out by the overworked Numancia defence, who are showing some signs of frustration. Rossato takes the kick, but his shot is well over the bar. In 43' a Numancia free kick into Malaga's box results in Rosario going down in a heap. There is some confusion as the referee refuses to stop play to allow Rosario's head wound to be treated. Hidalgo eventually kicks the ball away. Jesus Gamez and Beranger are both booked after the melee.

Half-time Malaga 0 Numancia 0
Reflections: It's been all Malaga who have played some of their best football so far this season. They have been a joy to watch, but have failed to put Jacobo under too much pressure with some pretty woeful shooting.

After the restart, Malaga start where they left off. Paulo Jorge, who is also having his best game in a Malaga shirt, is upended. The free kick is taken quickly and wasted. In 49' Rosario, who is now sporting a head bandage after his clash at the end of the first half, has to be sharp to clear the ball from Alverez's feet. The Numancia number 5 has been strong and the pick of Numnacia's players going forward. In 51' Numancia tie Malaga up in knots with a series of passing moves which started down Malaga's right flank and ended up across the field on Malaga's left. As a result, a quick cross from the left to the near post is met by ALVEREZ who heads powerfully home from 6 yards with the ball entering the net in the top corner off the crossbar. Malaga 0 Numancia 1 It's a sensational goal and totally against the run of play. With Malaga dominating the game so far, the supporters have no doubt that the score is only a temporary aberration. After Carpintero passes straight to a Numancia midfielder, Muniz replaces him in 53' with Sandro, such that Malaga now have three creative midfielders on the pitch. In 58' Muniz makes his second change as he tries to reshuffle his side to try and get back on level terms. Winger Paulo Jorge is removed and striker Salva takes his place. Malaga change to a 4-1-3-2 formation with Apono playing slightly deeper than Sandro and Hidalgo. In 63' Eliseu gets to the by-line and crosses to Salva at the near post. The striker hits his shot on the turn but it's just wide and hits the side net. In 65' the best pass of the match. Sandro is in the centre circle and sends a delightful ball down the right wing where Hidalgo is running clear. Hidalgo, however, snatches at his shot/cross (?!?) which is woeful. In 68' Bolo goes down in the box after a Numancia corner. The referee waves play on as Bolo continues to lie in the box. Weligton brings this to the attention of the referee who stops play then promptly books Weligton! When Jesus Gamez complains about the booking, he too is booked. In 69' Eliseu's corner finds Salva in the box but the big striker heads just over. Things are not going Malaga's way despite all their continued pressure and Muniz makes his final change in 75' bringing on right winger Cheli for left back Rossato. In 76' Cheli makes an immediate impact and flies down the right wing and delivers a cross into the box to Baha. The striker's shot is blocked and the ball falls to Salva. The striker hits the ball first time but his shot cannons off the goalkeeper's legs and out. It is not Malaga's day! In 79' Bolo is replaced and top scorer Brit comes on. In 83' Brit easily beats Jesus Gamez all ends up but his shot is just wide of the post. In 85' Cheli again gets his cross in and finds Hidalgo. The midfielder is beaten to the ball by Jacobo who knocks it over the bar. From the resultant corner, Baha's shot is so wide it almost hits the corner flag. In 86' Baha has another chance from a cross from Jesus Gamez. Again Jacobo is equal to it and tips round the post. Only desperate defending by Numancia is keeping Malaga out. A draw is no more than they deserve. 89' Baha and then Salva both have shots saved by Jacobo from close range. 90' Rosario booked for pushing. 93' Hidalgo booked for dissent.

Full time Malaga 0 Numancia 1

It's Malaga's first home defeat of the season, but after their best performance so far. The goal which undid them was from the top drawer and hats off to Numancia who managed to survive against everything that Malaga threw at them. Another side would have been well beaten by Malaga on this performance. Numancia go top with Malaga second two points behind.

Next week another toughie as Malaga travel north to face third placed Sporting. It's again live at 12:00 on Canal+. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be watching.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 9:11 PM | Permalink

Málaga went into Sunday’s game in the frozen north of Spain against Numancia without regulars Jesule, Jonaton Valle (both suspended) and Jesus Gamez (injured). The first team squad has been reduced from 28 at the beginning of the season by various means to the point that on Sunday only 13 registered Malaga first team players were available for selection, including Gotia, the non-playing substitute goalkeeper. Five young players were included in the squad for the game: Borja Truchado, Popo, Perico, Alcala, Ador and Gascón. They are registered as players for Malaga’s other teams, so the Spanish press were calling the squad “Baby Malaga”.

The interest in the young Argentine Alcala from Arsenal and Liverpool had prompted Malaga manager Muniz to put out a “hands off” warning to them and other English clubs, saying that Malaga’s young talent is their future and that Malaga was not going to be a nursery for other teams.

Muniz resorted to his favoured defensive 4-1-4-1 line-up, with 20 year old Gascon, (no relation to Paul) playing the key role of “pivot” in front of the back four, the position held all season by Silva, who remains out injured. It’s a chance too for a starting role for new striker, Ivan Rosado, who impressed with his energy when he came on as a sub in last week’s game. Veteran Argentinean centre back Schurrer gets his chance again in defence with the absence of Jesule, returning after being for several weeks after a leg injury. Also returning to the team is left winger Calleja, also after a long period of injury.

Málaga (4-1-4-1): Arnau; Molinero, Armando, Schurrer, Valcarce; Gascón; Perico, Sandro, Hidalgo and Calleja; Iván Rosado.

Only 4000 spectators turned up in a very cold Sunday evening, including a small clutch of Malaga supporters who had made the very long journey north for the match.

In a lively first half, it is Malaga who show the invention and style and create ten opportunities to take the lead, with home keeper Juan Pablo keeping his side in the game. But, against the run of play, it’s Numancia who take the lead. Fakuda, their Japanese midfielder, receives the ball on the 18 yard line and with the Malaga defence static, swivels and drives home a powerful shot past Arnau, who apparently sees the ball late and dives to his right after the ball is in the net.

Numancia 1 Malaga 0.

Despite their superiority over Numancia, Malaga’s failure to score allowed the home team to go in at half time with the advantage.

In a less inspiring second half, Malaga were still the better team and introduced Popo for Calleja in 55 minutes, but he only lasted 12 minutes before getting injured and was himself replaced by Edgar in the 68’. Ernesto came on for Gascon in the 65’ as Muniz changed to a 4-4-2 formation, with Ernesto wide left, Perico wide right and Popo (then Edgar) up front with Ivan Rosado.

But it was not to be Malaga’s day and when a very soft penalty was awarded against Armando for pushing striker Juan Carlos Moreno on the edge of the penalty box in the 94’, which the striker converted himself, sending Arnau the wrong way, it literally was “game over”.

Final score: Numancia 2 Malaga 0

According to the Spanish press, referee Martínez Franco had a poor game and gave way to pressure from the local crowd on many occasions. He made only five bookings though, which must be some sort of a record for a Spanish game: Julio Álvarez, Palacios and Fukuda, from Numancia and Calleja (who misses next week’s game against Sporting de Gijon through suspension as a result) and Armando, for the visitors.

This result plunges Malaga back down the table and they find themselves again only three points of the dreaded relegation spots.

For next week’s home game on Sunday, Malaga have made a bold move to increase the crowd by offering a free ticket to each season ticket holder. If they all come and bring a friend, there could be over 22,000 fans shouting on the team.

Malaga beat Sporting de Gijon away from home at the beginning of the season and they will need to do the double over them as the season is turning into not one of chasing promotion but a hard fought endeavour to remain in La Segunda, in a transient season for the club. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 9:22 AM | Permalink

Saturday 16th September 2006; 1830h, 28C. 13,000 supporters inside La Rosaleda for Malaga's second home game of the season, against Numancia, the team from Soria in the Pyrenees that was relegated two seasons ago and failed last year to return to the top league at the first attempt. So another tough fixture for Marcus Alonso's men, hard on the away defeat to Albacete last weekend.

Malaga make changes to their starting line-up for the first time this season, with new signing Jesule making his debut at left back and attacking midfielder Sandro taking up a position just in front of the back four alongside Romero, with the most consistent player for Malaga so far this season, OJ Morales, dropped and not even on the bench.

Malaga (4-2-3-1): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Silva, Cesar Navas and Jesule; Romero and Sandro; Edgar, Counago and Calleja; Salva.

Numancia: (4-4-2): Juan Pablo; Felipe, Jaio, Tarantino and Sietes; Nagore, Pablo Lago, Palacios and Fran Moreno; Moreno and Bolo.

Malaga start brightly and create the first chance inside two minutes. Sandro finds Edgar running down the right wing. The Angolan squares the ball in front of Salva but his shot is blocked.
In 6' Numancia cross the halfway line for the first time and win a corner on the left. The corner is blocked by the first Malaga defender, Edgar, who clears upfield.
The next minute Romero sends a ball down the left to Calleja, who sends in a lovely ball to Counago, but the striker's header goes wide.
Malaga come even closer in 8'. Jesus Gamez takes a long throw in from the right and Counago wins a corner. Calleja's corner finds Jesule, whose header has Juan Pablo at full stretch to touch the ball onto the post for another corner. comes off the post. The ball falls to Jesus Gamez on his own just outside the box. The full back aims a low shot at goal which Juan Pablo saves comfortably.
It's all Malaga as they mount attack after attack. In 10' Calleja is denied in the box by a desparate tackle after fine work by Counago to create the chance. Again in 15', Counago opens up the defence for Edgar, who is denied by Juan Pablo who has rushed out to clear at the edge of his penalty area.
In 19' and against the run of play, Numancia make their second foray into the Malaga half and win a throw on their left. It's a long throw and Cesar Navas is alone, but instead of clearing the ball up to the half-way line, he heads it straight to Bolo, who is standing in the "D". The striker volleys the ball past the static defence and Arnau could only watch as the ball whizzed passed him into the net.
Malaga 0 Numancia 1
A bad defensive error by the giant 8'3" Cesar Navas, but expertly finished by Bolo.
Cesar Navas is having a bad game and he doesn't look sure about what he's supposed to be doing or who he should be marking. We watched him for several minutes and he just looked lost.
In 23' Numancia win another corner and Silva and Bolo clash with the striker having to go off the field for attention for a head knock.
With Bolo still off the field in 26', Cesar Navas makes another tragic error. He is in the six yard box and instead of kicking the ball upfield or even out of play, he elects a short pass back to Arnau. The goalkeeper was not expecting this ands hurriedly passes the ball left to Jesule. Jesule is being pressurised by Moreno and can only try to send it back to Arnau. In nips Fran Moreno to push the ball past Arnau to make it 0-2. What a disaster! Another self inflicted goal!
Malaga 0 Numancia 2
Numancia are no great shakes but are 2-0 up away to Malaga in front of a 13,000 partisan home crowd. They cannot believe it.
Counago continues to be Malaga's best hope of a goal. From the kick off, he receives a pass from Salva and his rasping shot requires a fine diving save from Juan Pablo.
Then in 29' Edgar runs clear onto a long pass from Sandro. He runs to the touchline but instead of crossing the ball he ends up on his arse and the ball goes out tamely for a goal kick.
The next minute Juan Pablo is again the hero for the visitors with a point blank save from Salva.
Bolo returns the field heavily bandaged after being off for over eight minutes.
In 31' Pablo Lago skins Jesule and his shot from the right needs a fine save from Arnau at his near post.
Counago continues to be Malaga's only real threat but in 34' his shot goes well wide when in a good position.
In 36' Counago goes alone past three defenders before being brought down by Sietes. Sietes next brings down Edgar and becomes the game's first booking.
On 45' Calleja sends in a cross from the left which flies over everybody's heads in a crowded area. The ball lands at Edgar's feet and he crashes in a powerful drive which is blocked on the goal-line. The ball bounces out to Salva in the six yard box, but the burly striker's shot is also blocked. The ball comes out this time to COUNAGO who makes no mistake.

Half time Malaga 1 Numancia 2

Malaga substitute Edgar for Saul at half time.
Malaga again start the brighter of the two teams and in 47' Romero wanders unattacked into the opposing penalty box and shoots at goal. Juan Pablo saves at the post.
In 51' there is some good movement from Malaga when Calleja sends a deep cross over Salva's head and Saul at full stretch hits the side netting.
In 59' Malaga's biggest threat is removed when Counago is replaced by Jonaton Valle, making his debut.
In 62' Numancia's stall is exposed when Felipe is booked for timewasting.
In 64' Bolo is replaced by Kenji.
In 65' Salva finds Jonaton with a short pass but the little forward hits the side net.
In 67' Jonaton goes close again after combining well with Calleja, but his shot is straight at Juan Pablo.
In 70' Tarantino brings down Salva in the box. The referee is well placed and says no penalty.
In 72' Fran Moreno is taken off and Juanra comes on.
In 75' Jesule comes off for another new boy, Ernesto.
In 76' Romero again breaks forward onto a pass from Sandro. Tarantino makes a timely tackle but needs treatment. In 79' Moreno is booked for diving.
In 82' Romero is booked for a tackle from behind.
Numancia are just frustrating Malaga by breaking down the attacks and then resorting to timewasting. Marcus Alonso's reply is to resort to a 3-3-4 formation with Cesar Navas and Romero joining Jonaton and Salva in a four man front line. However, these tactics are those of desperation and rarely succeed. And so in a poor game for Malaga they suffered their first home defeat of the season and a gap is already starting to widen between them and the early season leaders, Xerex and Cadiz.
Many are already shouting for Alonso's head as he is related to the former Finance Director of the club, Mendoza, who was one of the first sacked when the Sanz's took over and was threatened with court action over some of his dealings. So how long will it be before he goes?
The next home match is on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey when Cuidad de Murcia are Malaga's opponents.
The next away league match is at Gijon on Sunday, where Malaga take on Sporting.
The next home game is in two weeks when Malaga take on Las Palmas, from the Canary Islands.
Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 5:35 PM | Permalink

A busy day for me, Wednesday 22 September, with Helen and I flying in from Glasgow in the morning after a trip to Scotland to attend a wedding. Scotland was dark, cold and very wet, but it was not too long before we got home and got back into tee shirt, shorts and sandals. Unfortunately Helen has caught a cold from her stay in Scotland, but hopefully the sunshine and dry weather will help her recovery.
It was a 9pm kick-off against the La Liga newcomers, Numancia, promoted from La Segunda as runners-up to Levante last year. They have got off to a reasonable start and before today's game, after three matches, were above Malaga in the table on goal difference. The temperature was a balmy 26C and the stadium, with its new stand now open and allowing the support to be all around the ground, had a different, more intense atmosphere. Numancia are a team without recognisable stars, coming from a smallish town in the north of Spain. Their main threat is from their Korean international, Lee Chun Soo, signed at the last minute from Real Sociedad, before the season started, who plays wide left in a four man attack.
Malaga's manager, Manzano, has a problem on the right wing and cannot decide between Edgar, Manu and Gerardo for the position, having tried each one in each of the previous three games. On Sunday past, away to Real Mallorca, it was Edgar's turn, and he made his point by scoring (along with Wanchope's first goal for Malaga) in an excellent morale boosting 2-1 away win. This week is three games in a row, as Malaga are away to high flying Espanyol next Sunday, but maximum points from these three games would give the team the confidence all sides need early on in the season.
For the Numancia game, it was both Gerardo (at right back in place of Alexis, to combat the pace of Soo) and Edgar in the line-up in a 4-3-2-1 system, with Edgar and Amoroso in advanced positions ahead of Duda, Leko (the Croatian provides more attacking options than Romero) and Michel Angel, behind the lanky Costa Rican Wanchope (El Chope has recently been recalled to the international scene, after his impressive start to the season).
Malaga: Calatayud, Gerardo, Juanito, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce, Michel Angel, Leko, Duda, Edgar, Amoroso and Wanchope.
Numancia: (4-2-2-1-1): Nunez, Velasco, Otxoa, Molina, Graff, Palacio, Ros, Kiassos, Soo, Tevenet and Pineda.

People were still streaming in to the ground, when, after only three minutes, Malaga got off to a sensational start. Duda took a corner from the left after Chope forced a fine save from Nunez. The ball was cleared only to MICHEL ANGEL, lurking just outside the box, who hit the ball sweetly on the volley and it swerved past the box full of players just inside the post. What a goal! 1-0
We were still talking about Michel Angel's rare goal, when five minutes later, Duda passed from the left to WANCHOPE, who with his back to goal, controlled the ball magnificently to swivel round and hammer home from 20 yards. 2-0
Three minutes later, Malaga's dominance continued and Michel Angel came close to repeating his earlier effort from another Duda corner, but this time it went wide.
It was 18 minutes on the clock before Numancia showed up front and Pineda and Soo linked well but it came to nothing. Two minutes later, Malaga forced another corner, this time on the right, after a typically string run from Edgar. Duda took the inswinging corner, which found AMOROSO at the far post for the Brazilian to score his first goal for his new club. 3-0
You get a bit silly when your team goes up 3-0 after only twenty minutes, dreaming of cricket scores, but Numancia did not give up and from a well worked free kick in 28 minutes, just outside the box, Otxoa was clean through but shot straight at Calatayud.
The game went into a series of needless fouls in midfield as Numancia tried to stem the attacking play from Malaga, but the referee did not resort to the book, until the 41st minute, when Graff was deemed to be last man and sent off for cynically bringing down Amoroso as he started to bear down on the goalkeeper.
10 man Numancia did not give up and came closest to scoring before half-time when Ros ran onto a loose ball after Duda lost possession on the left wing on the centre line, but although Calatayud was beaten, his powerful drive came off the far post.
Half-time 3-0
The second half was a bit of an anticlimax after the sensational first half. Numancia down to 10 men predictably put all behind the ball in damage limitation, hoping to catch Malaga on the break with the pace of Pineda and Soo. Although Malaga played some nice football, with some neat passing and displays of skill, the cutting edge had gone with Chope shooting wide and Gerardo blasting well over on three occasions. In 63 minutes Chope was substituted to great cheers from the home support - his workrate and threat up front has already made him a fan's favourite - and Manu came on. This required a reshuffle of the team to a 4-4-2 formation with Edgar and Amoroso becoming a two pronged strike force, as Manzano tried to find more goals.
In 65 minutes, Amoroso was clean through in the box and was cynically brought down in a sandwich between the two giant centre backs, Oxtoa and Molina. A certain penalty, but the referee waved play on.
Then two minutes later, Tevenet plays the ball off Gerardo to gain a rare corner for Numancia. From the resultant corner kick, the ball bounced around the Malaga goalmouth like bagatelle, with the defenders unable to clear the ball from the area. OXTOA was able to stick out a foot to stab home a consolation goal. 3-1
Two minutes later Leko was booked for a foul on Oxtoa and while play was stopped Luque came on for Duda. Manu was next in the book for a foul against Palacio on the centre line.
On 80 minutes, Swiss striker Giejo (pronounced Geecho, ch as in loch) came on for the tiring Edgar.
Fernando Sanz became the third Malaga player in the book for use of his elbow against Soo in the centre circle.
The game was dying as we headed for full-time when LUQUE burst through the centre of the defence on a superb solo run and from 12 yards blasted the ball into the top corner to make it 4-1. Seconds later Giejo was put through by Michel Angel and he was one on one with the keeper but his firm shot went just wide the far post.
Full-time Malaga 4 Numancia 1

Your Malaga CF Correspondent

Posted by hodgers at 11:28 AM | Permalink