Match Reports

Malaga made the trip north to the beautiful city of San Sebastian, the jewel of the Basque Country, to play the first of three games in a row against the three teams relegated from the First Division at the end of last season, Real Sociedad, with Celta Vigo and Gimnastic to follow.
Real Sociedad have not had their troubles to seek, finding adapting to La Segunda equally as difficult as Malaga did last year. Indeed, many of the senior players are threatening strike action over a heavily in-debt club trying to restructure its finances by suggesting that the players take a drop in wages and that part of their wages be consequent on the team gaining promotion this year. Trainer, Welshman Chris Coleman, the former Fulham boss and ex-Crystal Palace defender, has found his first season in Spanish football a tough baptism and his job hangs in the balance after some poor results that have found the promotion favourites languishing in 14th place, some 13 points behind the leaders, Malaga.
So Malaga enter the fray against a club who have not won in the last five games, still buoyant after their 4-2 home defeat of Racing Ferrol last week.
Manager Muniz is forced to make a couple of changes to the starting eleven as centre back Rosario is suspended (replaced by Jesule, making his first appearance in the league this season) and Salva, replaced by Peragon, is recovering from an injury sustained in a charity match held during the week between Friends of Ronaldo and Friends of Zidane,. On the plus side is the return of Jesus Gamez at right back after completing his suspension. Wunder-kid Gerardo, who turned the game last week when he came on at half time, has to be content with a place on the bench.

Malaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Jesus Gamez, Weligton, Jesule and Rossato; Carpintero; Paulo Jorge, Hidalgo, Apoño, and Eliseu, Hidalgo; Peragón.

In driving rain, in front of 16,714 spectators in Anoeta, the home side suffered a blow to their hopes when ex-Malaga right back Gerardo had to leave the field in 4’ with a pulled muscle to be replaced by the youngster Castillo.
However, this setback did not seem to upset their rhythm and they set about forcing the game in and around the Malaga penalty area. The early pressure paid off when they went ahead in 9’ when from a corner from Xabi, the Malaga defence cleared only as far as Mikel Aranburu, lurking just outside the box and he scored left footed past the outstretched and despairing figure of Goitia in the Malaga goal.
Real Sociedad 1 Malaga 0
Although Sociedad continued to dominate the first half, Malaga did have chances, especially through the wing play of Eliseu on the left. He had a chance to equalise on the counter attack with his pace, but instead of running in on goal, he opted instead for a 40 yard pass to Mr Nobody.
Rossato came close in 22’ with a free kick with keeper Riesgo beaten, but defender Mikel Gonzalez managed to turn the ball round the post.
Eliseu came close when he tried a long range effort just before halftime but Riesgo made a brilliant save to deny the left winger.
Half time Real Sociedad 1 Malaga 0
Muniz changed things at the start of the second half, taking off Carpintero and replacing him with Gerardo. Pushing Hidalgo forward to support Peragon, Malaga went to a 4-4-1-1 formation.
The change had an immediate effect as Malaga started to take charge of the game and in the opening exchanges of the second half, Malaga had several opportunities to draw level, the best of which came from Rossato in 55’, which again produced an excellent save from Riesgo.
All the good work was undone in the 65th minute, though, when Eliseu was shown a second yellow card and sent off. Although Muniz immediately brought on striker Salva for Paulo Jorge, the 10-men were always going to be up against it.
The game was put beyond Malaga’s reach in 73’ when Carlos Martinez scored his first professional goal after a clever free kick by Xabi.
Real Sociedad 2 Malaga 0
Muniz brought on Calleja for Rossato immediately afterwards, but Real Sociedad were able to control the last fifteen minutes of the game to gain the victory which saw them jump six places up the table to 8th.
Full time Real Sociedad 2 Malaga 0

For Malaga it was an opportunity lost to extend their lead over their rivals at the top of the table, especially after Numancia lost at home 0-2 to Granada 74.
It is as well to remember that the top three teams are promoted from the Segunda and after 14 games played, Malaga still have a cushion of 8 points over the fourth placed promotion rival, Elche, as Sevilla reserve team Sevilla Atletico cannot be promoted. With another two tough games against former First Division clubs on the immediate horizon, will that cushion still be intact?
Next Sunday, Malaga are at home to Celta Vigo. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!

Segunda Table

1 Málaga 30
2 Sporting de Gijón 27
3 Numancia 27
4 Sevilla Atlético 24
5 Elche 22
6 Celta de Vigo 21
7 Hércules 20
8 Real Sociedad 20
9 Gimnástic Tarragona 19
10 Salamanca 19
11 Tenerife 19
12 Granada 74 19
13 Córdoba 19
14 Eibar 18
15 Castellón 17
16 Racing de Ferrol 17
17 Alavés 16
18 Cádiz 15
19 Polideportivo Ejido 15
20 Xerez 12
21 Albacete 10
22 Las Palmas 9

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 10:08 AM | Permalink

Sunday 20 November 2005: 17:00h
This week's visitors come all the way from the heart of the Basque Country, from the beautiful seaside resort of San Sebastian on the Bay of Biscay. Real Sociedad had beaten Malaga on their last three visits to La Roseleda, including last season's thrashing 1-5 which signalled the end for Malaga's then manager Manzano. The good news for Malaga fans is the absence of Darko Kovacevic, who has scored 4 times in 9 outings this season and scored twice in last season's encounter. Also, his usual strike partner, the little Turkish striker, Nihat, is recovering from an injury and starts on the bench. They play with a defensive midfielder, Alonso, in front of the back four, another four in midfield, with a lone striker upfront.

Real Sociedad: (4-1-4-1): Reisgo; Rekarte, Labaka, Jauregui and Garrido; Alonso; Xavi Prieto, Gari, Novo and Aremburu; Bakero.

Malaga, after Deportivo snatched a draw from them two weeks ago, stay with the team and the 4-4-2 formation that has brought them some success in the last few matches;
Malaga: (4-4-2): Arnau; Alexis, Cesar, Fernando Sanz and Valcarce; Edgar, Juan Rodriguez, Gerardo and Nacho; Salva and Counago.

It's been a windy day today and we found it quite cold at petanca, having to put on a jersey to keep warm, but at La Roseleda, the corner flags lie limp and it feels quite warm in another 25,000 capacity crowd. The new stand on the main road has progressed with a big step in construction since our last visit, with the huge concrete structure rising from the ground to our right, offering more shelter from the elements (whatever they are). The mild climate must be quite a shock to Real Sociedad as last week the whole of the north of Spain was covered in deep snow and the ski season has started early in both the Pyrenees and also, closer to home, in the Sierra Nevada in Granada. Enough of the weather, what about the game, I hear you rant!

It was Real Sociedad who started the more briskly. They win the toss and decide to defend the Fondo end (where we sit). Inside the first minute, they had a shot on target from Alonso from about 30 yards, which Arnau could only turn round the post. This corner developed into three corners before the Malaga defence could clear their lines and so from this point on, we were worried every time Real Sociedad got themselves into an attacking situation.
In 5' we have the first booking of the game, when fullback Garrido is cautioned after scything down Edgar wide on Malaga's right wing.
Gerardo takes the resultant free kick, which he swings in towards Salva's head, but goalkeeper Reisgo (which unfortunately translates as "Risky") rushes out to clear the danger. The goalkeeper looks small in stature for his position, but he makes up for that with his agility and pace.
It's the 13' minute before we see an attempt at goal from Malaga and it's a speculative shot from Valcarce, who, standing alone in the centre circle, finds the ball popping out of the crowded Sociedad penalty area and tries an audacious lob from fully 40 yards that Reisgo was happy to see fly just over the bar.
The next minute sees a better opportunity, when superb closing down by Juan Rodriguez forces Gari to make a mistake and the ball breaks to Edgar. The pacy Portuguese winger sets off at once with the ball, catching the static Sociedad defence cold. He races into the box, but for some reason elects to pass square to Salva when the shot was definitely on. Salva seems to be as caught out as the rest of us when he receives the pass, but recovers enough to blast a shot at goal. It comes off Labaka and skies over the bar for a corner.
An even better chance comes along in the 19th minute, when a clever pass from Juan Rodriguez finds Counago in the clear on the right. The striker is completely unmarked and probably has too much time to think as he goes one on one with the keeper. He probably also wasn't helped as the entire Fondo stand gets onto their feet in anticipation of the shot. Counago attempts a lob over Reisgo who has elected to rush out and the ball ends up on the roof of the net.
In 23' we have a scare when overlapping fullback Rekarte has a go from 20 yards which goes just wide of the post as Real Sociedad look dangerous on the counterattack.
In 26' Juan Rodriguez tries from 20 yards but it's high and wide.
Edgar wins a corner on the right as his pace exposes Garrido again in 30'. Gerardo's corner is aimed at Salva's head, with which the striker makes a powerful connection. Unfortunately it's Cesar on the goalline who stops the shot inadvertently as he tries to get out of the way. Counago pounces on the free ball but Reisgo makes an excellent save at his near post.
We were beginning to think it was going to be another of those frustrating days for Malaga, who for all their possession and chances, cannot finish and leave themselves open to a counter attack.
The next minute sees a bizarre moment. Edgar supplies Salva standing in the "D", but surrounded by three defenders. There is nowhere for him to go and no support immediately available. The action seems to freeze, with Salva with the ball at his feet standing still and neither of the defenders making any attempt to tackle or take the ball. We think the ref has blown his whistle, although we hadn't heard it. But no, Salva was just waiting for support, which came in the form of Gerardo. Salva pushes the ball towards him but the little midfielder's shot goes high and wide.
In 38' we see the first of Nacho, who has had a quiet time on the left wing. He swings a cross right across the field to Edgar, whose run has taken him past the Real Sociedad defence. Riesgo has to rush out again and averts the danger by kicking the ball high into the stand.
Xavi Prieto is creating havoc down the right wing for Sociedad and Valcarce is allowing the winger to beat him time and again and get his crosses in. In 43' Prieto whips a great cross across the penalty spot but Novo is beaten to it by Arnau.
In the last action in the first half, Malaga's passing and movement create another chance as Gerardo finds Counago in space. The striker slips it past two defenders into the path of Salva, but the big striker's effort goes just over.
Half time Malaga 0 Real Sociedad 0
We have to wait until the 53' before there is any goalmouth action. Counago's run again finds him unmarked in the box and one on one with the goalkeeper. Again the crowd rises to its feet in anticipation, but the striker's shot is weak and straight at Riesgo who gathers easily.
In 55' Labako is booked for a tackle from behind on Nacho.
In 60' Valcarce becomes the first Malaga player in the book for shirt tugging. As this is going on, Tapia makes his first change, bringing on Hidalgo for the disappointing Counago. This means that we have a change in formation, as Malaga go to five across the middle with Salva alone up front.
The change has an immediate effect. Hidalgo gets the ball and runs at the defence from halfway. He is tackled and the ball goes for a corner. Gerardo takes and sends it into CESAR. The giant centre back (at least 8'3") glances his header away from Riesgo in the crowded box and Malaga go ahead.
Malaga 1 Real Sociedad 0
As we are celebrating, Tapia makes his second change, taking off Valcarce for the Brazilian Anderson. Now Malaga revert to Tapia's favourite line up with four at the back (Gerardo taking over at left back), two holding midfielders (Anderson and Juan Rodriguez), two wingers (Edgar and Nacho), an attacking midfielder (Hidalgo) and a lone striker (Salva).
In 65' Juan Rodriguez sends a tempting ball into the left channel for Edgar to pick up and run into the box. The Angolan Portuguese is sandwiched between two defenders and goes down. A penalty? Numerous replays on TV later show that it was, but the referee says play on.
The next minute Nacho is booked for shirt tugging. Nihat comes on for Aremburu for Real Sociedad.
The threat of the little Turk becomes evident in 70' as his glancing header is just wide of the post with Arnau watching on helplessly.
In 75' Malaga increase their lead. Superb wing play by Nacho gets him past three defenders on the left. His cross is meant for Edgar, but HIDALGO takes the ball off his team-mate's feet to place a terrific shot past Riesgo.
Malaga 2 Real Sociedad 0
Sociedad make a change before kick off with Gari being replaced by de Paulo.
Malaga win the ball from the kick off and Edgar goes on yet another diagonal run from right to left. Hidalgo spots it and places the ball in front of him with a millimetre perfect pass. Goalie Riesgo rushes out and the ball Edgar and Riesgo all meet each other simultaneously. EDGAR's foot must have been there first though as the ball rockets into the empty net to make it 3-0.
Malaga 3 Real Sociedad 0
Edgar requires some treatment after his collision with Riesgo, so Sociedad kick off against 10 men. Xavi Prieto, the right winger, who has been Sociedad's main threat all evening again runs off with the ball down the right wing. He just runs past Gerardo before whipping in an inviting cross towards the penalty spot. Arnau and Fernando Sanz are looking at each other expecting the other to take charge of the ball. In runs DE PAULO to slide the ball past the two Malaga players and into the empty net to claw one back for the visitors.
Malaga 3 Real Sociedad 1
In 85' Salva is replaced by Paco Estaban.
In 86' Sociedad are not finished and are looking for another goal. This time it's de Paulo down the right wing and he finds Nihat with his cross. The tiny Turk tries to steer it past Arnau but it goes just wide of the post as well.
Fulltime Malaga 3 Real Sociedad 1
It's a good home win for the Boquerones and Malaga go up two places in the table to 11th. Next week they are off to Madrid for the tricky confrontation with Getafe, then the following week Malaga entertain Osasuna, who have had the best start to any season in their history. However, this weekend they have dropped down one from the top spot and are now lying second to Barcelona in the latest league table after drawing with ....... Getafe this weekend.
I am already looking forward to this clash, as I am sure you are. Never fear, your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

PS There has been some mischief in the English press about a takeover of Malaga by a consortium from England, who are associated with Arsenal FC. Some of the papers are saying that the deal has been struck, signed and sealed in a Marbella hotel, but the official Malaga CF line has been one of definite denial, with club Presidente Roldan stating that " There has been no discussions with anyone, at any time in any place. Malaga CF is not for sale".
We will watch and report if anything develops.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 4:16 PM | Permalink

After being thrashed 3-0 away to Villarreal on Sunday, it was back to La Roseleda for Wednesday night's match against Real Sociedad, the team from San Sebastian, the capital of the Basque Country on the Bay of Biscay coast in the north of Spain.
This is the last game of the year as La Liga enters a three week break over the festive period, with the next match away to Racing Santander on 09 January 2005.
Since the last home game, Sarafin Roldan, the President of Malaga CF, has stated that money would be made available to Manzano to obtain two new strikers, as the present crisis has been blamed on the lack of availability and fitness of the two transatlantic strikers, Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Amoroso (Brazil) who have been playing for their countries in World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Four names have been toted, of whom two are Spanish, one is Egyptian and the fourth a "Spanish/Brazilian". We shall wait and see.
In the meantime, Manzano has to pick his team up from the defeat by the Yellow Submarines of Villarreal and face Sociedad, a squad who is bristling with talent, including the Serbian, Kovacevic, the little Turk, Nihat, and the excellent Ukrainian winger, Karpin. During the close season, Manager Amorrortu has reinforced his squad with the signings of defenders Brechet and Rossato and the midfielder, signed from Glasgow Rangers, Arteta, who was arguably the Light Blues' best player last season.
As Geoff and I were taking our seats (with Sheila and Helen along for their Christmas present from us), the team came out to warm up and it became apparent that both Duda and Luque were missing, so who was going to play down the left wing? Both Alexis and Gerardo were on view, with Edgar also chosen, so we had three right sided players who can play on the wing and no left equivalent. This was Manzano trying something different and the team lined up in a very unfamiliar 4-4-3 formation: Calatayud, Alexis, Fernando Sanz, Juanito and Valcarce, Gerardo, Romero and Miguel Angel, Edgar, Wanchope and Amoroso.
Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Alberto, Rekarte, Labaka, Rossato and Garrido, Aranburu and Mikel Alonso, Karpin, Gabilondo and Nihat, Kovacevic.
Malaga win the toss and Sociedad kick off, defending the Fondo end. But it's Malaga who look most urgent and keen to be on the ball with the Basques on the back foot. But it's 6 minutes before the first shot on goal. First Alexis takes a throw-in on the right to Edgar, who slides a great cross to the feet of Amoroso, but the shot goes just past.
Two minutes later it's the Brazilian again, this time supplied by Miguel Angel, who seems to have taken up a wide left berth. This is not his natural or best position, so there was some murmurings from the supporters about this selection. However, he found Amoroso's right foot and the shot had to be saved and pushed away for a corner. Miguel Angel takes the kick but fails to beat the first defender.
It's all Malaga as they press forward for an early opening goal which would settle their nerves and regain some confidence. They push forward and at another corner in 11' they are caught cold as the defence clear to little Nihat who races into the open spaces provided by the absent Malaga defence. He slips the ball to Rossato who has raced out of defence to support the attack. He whips the ball across to the unmarked KOVACEVIC whose clever header eludes Calatayud to make it 0-1. This was literally Sociedad's first attack and shot on goal in the match.
Malaga 0 Real Sociedad 1
This stunned Malaga, but they continued to plod away. Miguel Angel looked increasingly uneasy out on the left wing, being forced to make passes and crosses with his less favoured left foot. The weak attempts are easily mopped up by the giant Labaka, in particular.
In 13', Calatayud makes his first save, diving full length to his left to push away a freekick from Rossato.
In 19' Sociedad again threaten on the counterattack and the dangerous Kovacevic is one on one with Calatayud, but the Serb's lob is just over.
In 21' Gerardo takes a quick freekick on the right and pushes the ball into space in front of Wanchope, but he easily outpaced by the imposing centre back Labaka.
More danger for Malaga in 27' when Karpin's cross again finds Kovacevic free in front of goal. He shoots straight at Calatayud, who can only push the ball straight back to the big striker. The Serb tries again, but this time Calatayud gathers the ball safely.
The following minute, Miguel Angel pulls his shot wide after another quick Gerardo freekick.
In 30' Amoroso is chopped down in front of the dugout and Manager Manzano is warned for complaining when the referee plays on.
In 32' Wanchope uses some slick close control to weave past two defenders and surviving a scything tackle in the process. He found himself clear in the box and was about to pull the trigger, when the referee stopped play and brought the action back to where the lanky striker had been fouled. Gerardo takes the kick but the ball comes off the wall.
In 36' there is some good wing play by Edgar down the right but he is brought down. Gerardo takes the freekick but it misses everybody and goes across the field and out for a throw.
In 40' Valcarce appears on the right wing! The left back advances towards the box where he is brought down by Labaka. Gerardo again takes the kick and again it misses everybody in the crowded area. This time VALCARCE (who has returned to his more customary place wide on the left) rescues the ball before it goes out for a throw, takes it almost to the line and whips in a cross which flies over Alberto's flailing arms and into the net at the far post.
Malaga 1 Sociedad 1
Half time comes with the scores level and remarkably no cards have been shown - a first this season at La Roseleda.
Malaga kick off and Romero finds Amoroso through the middle but his shot is tipped over for a corner which is cleared.
Malaga continue to press forward and Alberto has to dive full length to keep Romero's piledriver out after Wanchope's effort is miscleared.
In 50' Alberto has to be quick off his line to take the ball away from Amoroso who is put through by Edgar.
The next minute, Gerardo is felled on the left wing deep inside Sociedad's half. Malaga expect the whistle for the freekick, but it does not come. Karpin is first to react and hares down the wing into big open spaces. He whips in his centre to find the big KOVACEVIC unmarked and the striker makes no mistake to make it 1-2
Malaga 1 Sociedad 2
In 59' Sociedad make another rare attack and Nihat's shot is blocked by Alexis for a corner. The Turk takes the kick himself and it finds the head of LABAKA to make it 1-3 for the visitors.
Malaga 1 Sociedad 3
At this point, tensions in the crowd spilled over and many supporters around the directors' box in the centre of the stand made their protests loud and clear to Roldan and the other board members and shouts of "Manzano out" and "No politics, just more players". Scenes started to get a little ugly as riot police in full gear ran to the directors' box to protect the board members. As the riot police took their places, a torrent of empty plastic Coke bottles rained in on Roldan and his colleagues.
Meanwhile on the park, nothing was going right for the beleaguered Malaga team. With 21 players in the Sociedad half, the ball breaks to NIHAT who runs towards the goal and easily beats Calatayud with an excellent shot.
Malaga 1 Sociedad 4
Things go from bad to worse when the referee produced his first card of the game in 77' (in fact the only card of the game) and it's a red one! Gerardo is sent off for a tackle, which failed to make any contact, but with studs showing.
In 80' Karpin again shows his pace, skill and accuracy down the right wing. In yet another break from defence, the winger has no one in front of him as he runs into Malaga's half. This time he finds NIHAT on his own and the little striker taps the ball home to make it 1-5 and complete the rout.
With angry scenes around the Director's Box and decreasing interest on events on the park, the referee blew for full-time with no stoppage time added on.
Full time Malaga 1 Sociedad 5

This result finds Malaga at their lowest point in their La Liga history where they have been established in the top half since their promotion from La Segunda. This performance is easily the worst I've witnessed in the season and half I have been coming to Malaga matches. The team selection was poor, with players asked to play out of their normal position and in a 4-4-3 formation which has been tried here with these players and failed. The two strikers looked tired and unfit and it remains to be seen whether Manzano will survive into the New Year. I think he will and will try to introduce some new faces into the squad in the January window. The season is not yet half way through, so it is a little early to write them off just yet. Having said that, last year at this time they were in sixth place with essentially the same team and we were dreaming of possible European football here this season.
Next home game is against local Andalucian rivals, Sevilla. The White and Reds are currently lying third in La Liga after they went away to Real Madrid and beat them 0-1 at the Bernabau on Wednesday night. So not an easy start to 2005!
We wait to see what happens next as the season unfolds. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Posted by hodgers at 6:14 PM | Permalink