Match Reports

Malaga travel north to play the runaway leaders and promotion favourites, Valladolid, after their necessary win last week against Xerez, knowing that the likely defeat would plunge them into the relegation zone.
Manager Muniz made two changes to the team that won last week – one positional and one tactical. Valcarce was dropped and Calleja moved back to left back, with Ernesto getting a rare start on the left wing.
Malaga (4-4-2): Goitia; Jesus Gamez, Armando, Jesule and Calleja; Molinero, Gascon, Hidalgo and Ernesto; Ivan Rosado and Counago.
The next surprise was that Goitia, reserve goalkeeper to the out of form Arnau and making only his fourth appearance this season, was named captain.
Malaga kick off in the sunshine and start brightly. In the first minute they make home goalkeeper Alberto work, when Hidalgo sends Molinero off down the right wing and the keeper had to move quickly to cut out the cross as Rosado moved into the six yard box.
Malaga look sharp and in 6’ fast one-touch interpassing down the right wing leads to Molinero crossing in again. This time his cross dips down at the bar and Alberto again has to stretch to palm it away from Counago.
In 9’ Valladolid playmaker Borja is robbed in midfield by Rosado, who runs 20 yards into the penalty box. Faced with two defenders he slips the ball square to Molinero, who’s fouled. Ernesto takes the free kick and sends in a tantalising cross which eludes the crowd in the box and narrowly misses going in at the far post.
It’s 14’ before Valladolid mount their first attack and Armando makes an excellent tackle in the box against Victor who had run into the area.
Then Muniz springs another surprise. A substitution! Teenager Gascon looks bemused as he is taken off and Silva replaces him. Malaga rearrange (as they do several times a game since Muniz took over) to a 4-1-3-2 formation with Silva sitting in front of the back four. It’s a more defensive line-up and disappointing given the bright attacking start that Malaga has had.
In 20’ Victor again has to be tackled cleanly in the box by Armando to avert danger.
In 28’ the best move of the match so far. Ernesto breaks down the left wing. He slides the ball to Counago who returns the favour. Ernesto has moved inside and cracks a fine shot at goal from 18 yards. Alberto is beaten but the ball takes a deflection off a defender to go out for a corner.
In 32’ Hidalgo becomes the first booking, for sliding in late. Goitia catches the effort cleanly from the free kick.
Half an hour gone and the league leaders are being kept well clear of the Malaga penalty box by some fine defending and the visitors are creating chances at the other end.
The television picture shows that possession is 72% for Valladolid and 28% for Malaga, but most of the possession is in Valladolid’s half with the centre backs passing between them. A good half by Malaga.
Half-time Valladolid 0 Malaga 0
In 49’ it’s still Malaga on the hunt for the opening goal. Hidalgo takes a free kick 40 yards out. It bounces high around the penalty spot and Alberto has to tip the ball over from just under the bar.
In 52’ Goitia makes his first real save of the game when he has to tip a deflected shot from full back Marcos over the bar.
In 53’ there is a bit of a stooshie when Jesus Gamez goes down in his own 6 yard box, but the referee allows play to continue. Jesus Gamez is playing everybody on and when the ball goes wide for a goal kick, Jesule is booked for dissent after arguing with the referee.
In 55’ there is a penalty claim from Malaga, when Hidalgo breaks into the box onto an Ernesto pass and goes down. Nothing given.
In 56’ Silva becomes the third Malaga booking for a tackle from behind. The free kick is taken low and Goitia has no trouble gathering the ball.
In 59’ Malaga go close again when Jesus Gamez wins a corner on the right. Ernesto’s kick is well directed and finds Counago’s head, but the ball goes just over.
In 63’ a better chance from another Ernesto corner. (At last corner kicks are dangerous! For the first time in four years, after countless Duda, then Calleja and Sandro efforts.). This time Silva has a free header but he misses the target.
In 65’ Borja is taken off and Mario Suarez comes on for Valladolid.
In 67’ Malaga get a bit casual in midfield when Molinero’s slack pass doesn’t find the striker. Winger Capdevila latches onto the loose ball and runs towards the goal. He has no support so tries from 25 yards forcing Goitia to make a fine save.
In 68’ Rubio becomes Valladolid’s first booking when he holds onto Ernesto.
Malaga have lost the initiative now and are defending along their own 18 yard line. It seems that they have settled for the 0-0 draw.
In 72’ Sisi, in too much space, shoots from 25 yards and again Goitia has to make another fine save.
In 73’ Capdevila comes off for Touche to come on for Valladolid.
What a substitution this turns out to be. In the next minute, Jesus Gamez is all on his own on the 18 yard line. Instead of booting the ball up the park, for some reason he elects to try and find Armando and passes weakly across his own penalty area. The ball lands nicely for TOUCHE who volleys past Goitia who is taken completely by surprise.
Valladolid 1 Malaga 0
It was a defensive error but it had to come as Malaga were playing too deep defensively.
In 76’ Muniz makes his second change. Discarded giant Uruguayan striker Chengue Morales comes on for Molinero, as Malaga change again to a 4-3-3 formation to change from ultra defence to all out attack to try and find the equaliser.
It almost works in 82’ when Ernesto’s pass finds Counago in the box. The striker forces the defender to concede a corner. Ernesto’s corner again almost goes in under the bar and Alberto has to punch clear.
In 83’ Valladolid set out their stall. League top scorer Llorente is taken off and defender Ivan Hernandez comes on to defend the 1-0 lead.
In 86’ Malaga make their final change, bringing on Jonaton Valle for Ivan Rosado – or one lightweight for another. Jonaton Valle is a midfielder though so Malaga change their formation again to 4-1-3-2.
In 92’ Malaga get their last chance to equalise when Hidalgo’s persistence wins a corner. Ernesto takes yet another fine kick and with Alberto beaten, the ball is cleared off the line by a defender to safety.
Full-time Valladolid 1 Malaga 0
The whistle goes to the home fans shouting Campeones, Campeones, whilst Malaga find themselves dropping into the bottom four and the relegation zone for the first time this season, after they discover that Castellon have won away at Albacete.
The next few games are crucial to Malaga’s efforts to survive when they play teams around them in the league, starting next week with their home game against second bottom Lorca. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there!

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 9:12 AM | Permalink

Sunday afternoon, 17:30h, and although it's the end of October, the digital clock/thermometer outside the stadium shows 25C. Malaga are at home to promotion rivals Valladolid, relegated two seasons ago and who, after failing to return in one season, sacked their manager, Marcus Alonso; yes, now Malaga's manager.

After last week's debacle at Jerez, Malaga badly need the points from this home game to keep them in touch with the leaders. In midweek, in the Copa del Rey (the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup), Malaga fielded a team made up of mostly squad members in the first leg against First Division Real Sociedad and won 4-1. (This defeat prompted the dismissal of Sociedad's manager, former Malaga B manager, Bakero.) So there was some confidence back in the squad going into this league match. However, Malaga's poor disciplinary record and 4 defeats and a draw in the opening 9 games of the season, meant that Alonso had to produce a win to stay in his job. So Alonso promised an attacking 4-4-2 formation and paired Salva and Counago in a starting line-up, which required other changes as both Romero and Cesar Navas were both suspended.

Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Armando, Silva and Jesule; Saul, Hidalgo, OJ Morales and Calleja; Salva and Counago.
Valladolid (4-2-3-1): Alberto; Lopez, Baraja, Bea and Marcos; Borja and Rubio; Sisi, Victor and Capdevilla; Llorente.

In front of a 12,000 noisy crowd, Valladolid start the brighter of the teams from the kick off and Borja tries a shot from just outside the centre circle in the first minute which Arnau was glad to see go just wide.
The game is being played at a quick pace with the action swinging from end to end, although Valladolid look more assured and confident when in possession.
Llorente, top scorer in the Second Division so far with 5 goals, is proving a handful for the Malaga defence and goes close on two occasions and then is just offside when through on Arnau.
In 12' the first booking of the game is Hidalgo for a tackle from behind.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 1 Valladolid 0)
In 14' Llorente strikes the post after Malaga fail to clear a free kick.
Malaga are pinned back in their own half as the visitors keep up the pressure on Arnau's goal. Silva has to make a last ditch tackle to prevent Sisi from scoring.
In 19' Llorente is booked for jockeying Arnau.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1)
In 26', Malaga's defence, which has been in disarray all season, is made to look really foolish when Saul and Armando go for the same ball and clash in midfield allowing Capdevilla to run alone the entire half of the field with only Arnau between him and the goal. Fortunately the attacking midfielder shoots narrowly wide.
Rubio is next to try his luck from 30 yards but his shot is just over.
In 36' Llorente goes for a 50/50 ball with Silva. His feet are highish but Silva bends down to attempt to head the ball. The referee says it's a foul and a second booking for Llorente and he's sent off.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1; Reds: Malaga 0 Valladolid 1)
Malaga should have their best chance now. Valladolid are down to ten men with their main goal threat and top scorer has been sent off.
However, it's still Valladolid who maintain the pressure on Arnau's goal and in 40' Morales is booked for high feet.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 2 Valladolid 1; Reds: Malaga 0 Valladolid 1)
In 45' it's Malaga's first real attempt on goal. A run by Calleja down the left wing and his cross finds Salva in the box. The burly striker gets his head to it but sends his shot wide of the post.

Half time: Malaga 0 Valladolid 0

Alonso makes two substitutions at half time. Off come Hidalgo (who disappeared from sight after his booking in the 12th minute) and Jesule (who looks more comfortable as a centre back than a full back). Instead, Sandro takes Hidalgo's place in the centre of midfield with Perico moving onto the left wing, with Calleja dropping back into defence.
In 47' Jesus Gamez is booked for a tackle from behind after giving away the ball cheaply.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 1; Reds: Malaga 0 Valladolid 1).
It's still 10 man Valladolid who look likely to score first and Victor almost finishes off a good move with a glancing header.
In 51' Counago gets his head onto a cross from Perico, but the ball goes over the bar.
In 53' Sisi is replaced by giant Suarez for Valladolid.
In 56' OJ Morales receives his second yellow card for deliberate hand ball and he's off.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 1; Reds: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1)
So it's 10 against 10 and any advantage Malaga should have had is wiped out.
It's still all Valladolid and Suarez should have scored after good work from Capdevilla.
In 61' Rubio is booked for a foul on Perico.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 2; Reds: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1)
In 68' Salva goes down with Baraja in a tackle for which he's booked.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 4 Valladolid 2; Reds: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1).
He stupidly does not retreat quickly enough to allow the free kick to be taken and is yellow carded again and he's sent off.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 2; Reds: Malaga 2 Valladolid 1)
Valladolid make an immediate change and take off Capdevilla for Alvara.
Malaga replace the ineffective Saul with Molinero, who assumes the right back position, with Jesus Gamez pushed into an anchor-type midfield role.
In 71' Borja is booked for a foul on Perico.
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 3; Reds: Malaga 2 Valladolid 1)
In 74' Molinero is booked for a foul on Victor but he should have been sent off as he was "last man."
(Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 4 Valladolid 3; Reds: Malaga 1 Valladolid 1)
In 76' the inevitable happens: Valladolid score and it's substitute Alvaro who makes no mistake from 8 yards when Victor's pass finds him alone in the box with the Malaga defence static.
Malaga 0 Valladolid 1
The very next minute and it could have been two for the visitors. Rubio's lobbed effort from 30 yards lands in the top of the net's roofing.
In 78' Armando gets the closest to a goal yet for Malaga when he heads on another's header in a crowded box. Somehow Alberto gets a hand to it to make the save.
In 79' Rubio is replaced by Hernandez.
Malaga are all at sea for the remaining 10 minutes as Valladolid run amok but fail to score again despite intense pressure. The referee added to more names to his book before the final whistle, Victor for a foul on Armando and Suarez for timewasting.
Final Card Count: Yellows: Malaga 3 Valladolid 5; Reds: Malaga 2 Valladolid 1
Final Score: Malaga 0 Valladolid 1

The worst display by any Malaga side I have seen in the past four seasons and even worse that last week against Xerez. This result pushes Malaga into 14th position in the table only two points off the relegation places. A grave faced Club President Fernando Sanz left the ground at the end of the game and by the time we had got home from the match, we had learned that Alonso had been sacked. Anon, the assistant manager, has been put in charge of the first team pending the appointment of a successor.

Only 10 games into the season, but far from romping home every week against inferior opposition, Malaga find themselves too close to the relegation zone.

Alonso had to go: he showed no tactical ability, no awareness of his players' abilities, no motivation, no organisation and no discipline. In short, he was shite. His legacy is a squad shattered with no confidence and the worst disciplinary record in Spain (if not the world) and where so many of the bookings have been avoidable.

The next game is away to Lorca and is being televised live on national TV in Spain on Saturday 18:30h. Malaga may or may not have a new manager in place by then. We shall see. We shall require a massive improvement in all departments if Malaga is going to succeed in their aim to be promoted this season and a win is imperative on Saturday.

The next home game is on 12 November against newcomers Ponferradina. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Posted by malagacf_correspondent at 12:20 AM | Permalink

Fellow Malaga CF followers,
It has not been a happy year so far for the blanquiazuls, Malaga having not recorded a win in any competition in 2004. After storming up La Liga to within a point of a Champion's League place towards the end of 2003, for a number of reasons, they have lost their way a little bit. The main reason for me though is that Manager Juande has stuck by and large to the same 11 throughout the first half of the season, but since the New Year, he has been forced to make changes due to suspensions and injuries. The eleven who have carried the fight so far have been, in a 4-1-4-1 formation:
Goalkeeper: Calatayud
Defence: Josemi, Litos, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce
Anchor: Romero
Midfield: Edgar, Insua, Michel Angel, Duda
Striker: Salva
In last week's away defeat to Villarreal, the team showed four changes form the "normal" eleven: Valcarce was replaced by Rojas, Romero by right winger Gerardo, with Salva replaced by Canabal and Diego Alonso up front in a new 4-4-2 line-up. Team: Calatayud, Josemi, Litos, Fernando Sanz, Rojas, Gerardo, Insua, Michel Angel, Duda, Diego Alonso and Canabal.
The biggest surprise last week was the omission of Salva, as although he has the touch and finesse of a carthorse, was still La Liga's third top scorer on 9 goals, behind Ronaldo (Real Madrid) on 15 and F Torres (Atletico Madrid) on 12. Despite last week's defeat Manager Juande saw enough promise in the play to predict that Malaga would soon overcome the current slump and with two back to back home matches against Valladolid this week and next Sunday's encounter against table-toppers Valencia, the team would show a return to winning form.
Today's opponents, Valladolid sat 10th equal with Malaga, both on 26 points, so a close fought match was in prospect. This was to be Helen's first visit to La Roseleda, courtesy of Geoff's season ticket, as Geoff and Sheila are back in England for a short while. Helen was quite looking forward to the match having enjoyed the experience 2 weeks ago when we visited Sevilla and saw Malaga go down to Betis.
Juande again made changes to the team (3 this time) to try and find that elusive first win this year. First surprise for me was the return of Arnau in goal, after being out since October with an injured arm, as young Calatayud had made a very favourable impression as Arnau's deputy. Rojas again retained his place at left back, with Romero returning in place of Insua, who dropped to the bench. Gerardo retained the right wing berth and Salva also returned, with a strike partner of Canabal in a 4-1-3-2 line-up. Team: Arnau, Josemi, Litos, Fernando Sanz, Rojas, Gerardo, Romero, Michel Angel, Duda, Salva and Canabal.
Malaga kicked off in 20C sunshine, with sunhats and sunglasses the order of the day with the bright sun still high at five o'clock. Within 8 minutes Valladolid had to make a substitution with main striker, Makukula, having to go off after a strong challenge by Sanz. After about ten minutes of play the strategy of the two teams seemed quite apparent. Malaga were the pressing team with their opponents quite content to pack their defence and depend on quick breakaways, particularly down their right wing through Sales, who gave Rojas a roasting all afternoon and their quick striker, Losada, whose twists and turns seemed to get Sanz in a fankle more than once. Arnau in goal looked a bit shaky after having been out for so long and Malaga's defence, normally their strongest suit, seemed to panic when the Valladolid front men ran at them. Although Sanz and Litos generally won the battle in the air or even in the tackle, they seemed not able to clear their lines properly and put themselves under unnecessary pressure.
However, it was the overlapping Rojas, put through via a delightful backheel by Duda, who reached the by-line and squared for SALVA to tap in at the far post to make it 1-0 after 23 minutes.
Malaga had most of the possession in the first half and Valladolid rarely looked like creating any chances except for one shot from Losada which Arnau had to clear the cobwebs away and make a diving save to his left. However, it was a mistake from Sanz almost on halftime, failing to clear, out on the left touchline, which led to the equaliser. The speedy Sales raced to the touchline and sent in a cross which was backheeled by Losada to OSCAR, lurking on the 18 yard line, who promptly sent a screamer into the back of the net, to a hushed crowd. Halftime 1-1.
It is a feature of games in Spain that teams do not have large travelling support, due to the games being played on Sunday nights and the large distances involved. However, the absolute silence which greets away goals still takes a bit of getting used to- especially when the ground is pretty much at capacity and the noise levels are high during normal play. Quite surreal.
Within 10 minutes after the restart Malaga made two changes, local hero Manu came on for the disappointing Gerardo and Diego Alonso less obviously for Canabal. Whilst Malaga was adapting to these changes, Valladolid took the lead when, after another mix-up between Sanz and Arnau, OSCAR nipped in to score his personal and his team's second. Score 1-2.
Valladolid seemed content to waste time and hang onto this lead even though there was still half an hour to play. A sense of frustration crept in to Malaga's play and the next fifteen minutes or so was very scrappy with too many interruptions to play for niggly fouls. One such was awarded to Valladolid with ten minutes to go, thirty yards out. Centre back and Roman Emperor JULIO CESAR stepped up and hammered the ball towards goal. It seemed to cannon off a few players like a bagatelle ball before nestling in the Arnau's bottom right hand corner. 1-3.
Juande made his third substitution by bringing on Insua for Romero to give the team more of an attacking bias. Many "fans" started to leave at this point, although I've never seen the value of missing any minutes of a match. Those who left missed an excellent Malaga counter. The third Valladolid goal seemed to wake Malaga up and they changed up three gears to try and salvage something from the game. Manu finally realised that he had got a game and was on the pitch. He received a 20 yard pass from Insua out wide on the right wing and evaded two tackles, the second fortuitously with the ball breaking into the penalty box. Manu got there first and sent a powerful cross to the back post where our hero SALVA came rushing in to head a great goal past the hapless Bizarri to make the score 2-3. The remainder of the game was very exciting as Malaga piled on the pressure for a deserved equaliser, but the referee blew for full time before this could be realised.
So another disappointing result for Malaga. Their next two games could not be tougher - Valencia at home and then away to Real Madrid. However, they are starting to slide down the table and need to collect some points soon if the early season promise is not going to turn into a fight for La Liga survival.
Canizares is the goalie with the best record in the league to date, having only conceded 14 goals in 20 matches. Hopefully Salva and co can do some damage to this proud record next weekend. Your Malaga CF correspondent will be there, be assured.

Posted by hodgers at 12:35 AM | Permalink