The first match of the second round of the competition at a very wet Eibar ground due to the continuous rainfall before and during the match. José González arranged two lines of four elements together, whilst Adrián engaged with forward, En-Nesyri. The home side got off to an impetuous start with various arrivals within the first 10 minutes, and a particularly toxic shot from Cote.
Heading into the first quarter of an hour of play, the Malaguistas had their first shot at goal with an impressive right-footer from Adrián, stopped in its tracks by Dmitrovic. The second occasion was lethal. A powerful counter attack from En-Nesyri from the left and superb definition by the homegrown player (0-1, 16’). In 27’, En-Nesyri appeared again on the same side, but his shot was too far crossed outside the local goal.
Málaga followed a textbook plan for a team away from home. Serious and ordered at the back, dangerous and sharp on the attack. Keko, in 36’, tried his luck with a long shot that went high by a small margin. At half-time, MCF maintained a minimal advantage.
In the second half, there were another two opportunities in the first two minutes for an ever-present En-Nesyri on the counter-attacks. In minute 55, there was another double occasion for Adrián and Chory, with two separate shots at point-blank range. Borja came on in minute 60 in place of En-Nesyri, in what was José González’s first substitution.
An impulsive Eibar went in search of an equaliser, faced with a well-equipped Malaguista defence. In the final stage of play, Kike García converted from close-range to go level (1-1, 75’). Mula joined the game in the 80th minute in substitution of Chory to refresh the left wing. A Keko left-footer from the other side sought out the target in 83’. Immediately afterwards, Kuzmanovic came on in place of captain, Recio in midfield.
In minute 86, Roberto intervened following a shot from ex-Blue and Whites’ player, Charles. Then in 87’, the ‘wall’ repeated his stunning save against Kike. In stoppage time Mula came close to glory, and another clear chance for Iturra didn’t convert into a goal. Kuzmanovic, with a double yellow, was sent off by the referee just before the final whistle, in a match that gives Málaga CF their first point of the second half of the season.
