Málaga CLUB de FÚTBOL

Málaga beats Villarreal (2-0) with a hard-fought win, meaning they recover their fifth position

It was a frenetic start as Málaga CF began causing danger around Diego Lópezs’ goal area in the first few moments of the match.  In just 15 seconds, Málaga stole the ball and got the first corner.  Almost immediately Borja Valero tried to surprise Willy Caballero from 30 metres away with a shot that didn’t quite make the grade.
 
There followed some initial moves from both teams, but the game's first goal was for Málaga when Santi Cazorla took a corner and passed it to Toulalan who battered it to the back of the Villareal net. One-nil on the scoreboard and Villareal were feeling the pressure put on them by Málaga as Cazorla and Isco were continually leading the charge with Toulalan never far away from increasing the Malaguista advanatage.
 
However, it was Villareal, with a pass from Borja Valero to Marco Ruben, who were next to score, passing the ball through Willy Caballero and equalising the score.
 
At this point Villareal were looking for clear counter attack chances in the locals’ goal area. One of these attacks was one of the most controversial of the match – a possible Demichelis penalty to Ruben, although the referee didn’t feel the same.
 
Rondón and Seba Fernández were the players who then had the majority of the subsequent Málaga opportunities, yet deadlock remained, although Isco sought to cause some trouble with some moves that ended with an attempt on Diego López’s goal.
 
Half an hour in and the game continued to be intense and with lots of movement, even though there was more focus midfield than in the goal areas of either team.
 
And then, again, it was Isco who became the star of Málaga’s second goal: the Benalmádena-born player began a move and then was assisted by Rondón before taking over again and shooting the ball to the back of Villareal’s net. And with 2-1 to Málga now on the scoreboard that was practically it for the first half.
 
The second half began with another free kick for Málaga – the eleventh Villareal had given away to the Blue and Whites – and it was Duda who took it, although it failed to make it to the Villareal area.  Málaga upped the pressure in their attack with all the players active and focused, especially Toulalan and Sergio Sánchez who caused ongoing problems for the Villareal’s left wing, and with Cazorla and Isco who continued to dominate play three quarters up the pitch.
 
Both teams underwent various changes in the second half, but these didn’t stop the fluidity or intensity of play, whilst Málaga maintained the same minimum advantage on the scoreboard and without clear goal chances as Borja Valero and Ruben were solidly Villareal’s most dangerous players.
 
And the second controversial move of the game was produced in minute 75 when Velasco Carballo showed French player Toulalan his second yellow card for a tackle on the edge of the Malaguista goal area.  Willy Caballero became the star of the following seemingly impossible move as he saved a shot from Borja Valero.  Just 15 minutes to go and they maintained their advantage on the scoreboard, despite having one less man on the pitch and with three substitutions made.
 
Villareal obviously went to take advantage of their greater number of men, creating some chances, although the Malaguista defence performed brilliantly.  These were tense minutes for Málaga fans who cheered on their team at every stage as they tried to counter attack and keep up the pressure on Villareal who seemed undeterred up until end and into the four minutes of extra time.  And then there was an explosion of joy from the fans and the players at La Rosaleda as the referee blew the whistle, signalling another win for Málaga.
 
So in the end 2-1 to Málaga CF, meaning the move on to fifth position in BBVA League with 23 points, one of the Champions positions and five above seventh place.