There was a great atmosphere in the stands at Martiricos for the last match of 2019 and, on the pitch, some standout changes to VSDA’s starting-11. In central defence, due to Luis Hernández’s suspension, Luis Muñoz was in action alongside Diego González. Also returned to the team, having recovered from injury, was Dani Pacheco on the attack.
Málaga got off to a meteoric start. Twelve seconds into the match, Renato, unmarked in front of the rival keeper, missed a goal that could have been the third quickest in MCF’s history – after Darío Silva against Valladolid and Baha against Cádiz. However, it wasn’t long before the Malaguistas opened the scoring. A cross from Renato on the right to Sadiku at the near post who slammed into the back of the net (1-0, 12’). The seventh goal for the Albanian forward this season.
The Blue and Whites’ superiority was prevalent against a Lugo that barely left their half. In 24’, another Renato-Sadiku connection inside the area missed a final shot at the target. Before the half-time whistle, there were more opportunities. In 37’, VAR disallowed a Sadiku goal for being in a very close offside position. The highly active number ‘9’ sent a left-footer to the post in minute 40 following an action initiated by Pacheco. Barreiro, with a header, forced Munir to intervene in 45’ in what was the only shot at goal for the Galician rival. At the end of the first half, Málaga maintained their 1-0 lead.
It was more of the same in the second half. Total dominance from MCF, with Antoñín and Renato particularly incisive on the wings, and Lugo awaiting a mistake from their opponent to approach the local goal. Again Barreiro, this time in minute 57, hunted down the ball from the left. Rainfall, although not heavy, made an appearance during play.
In 69’, Víctor made his first substitution. Benkhemassa, for Pacheco. Lugo attempted to extend their lines in the final stages of the second half, whilst Málaga remained faithful to the plan of a solid defence and staying combinative in the wide area. In 78’, goal-scorer Sadiku left the pitch to be replaced by Juankar.
Young player Castellano from the visitors tried his luck in 86’ with a shot deflected by Munir. Two minutes later, Boulahroud came on in place of an exhausted Adrián. In minute 89’, Antoñín launched a cross near the left post. Juankar sent a shot to the post during an endless period of stoppage time, lasting over 10 minutes. In the last action of the game, from a direct free kick, Pita went level with a perfect shot (1-1, 90+12’). A draw to end the year and the first round of LaLiga SmartBank with 22 points and a provisional 16th place in the standings.
