The forced absences due to an accumulation of yellow cards for Adrián and Ricca, N´Diaye’s red card and Luis Hernández through injury led Muñiz to modify the starting-11 from the last league encounter against CA Osasuna, bringing on Lombán and Diego González, in defence, and Lacen and Boulahroud on the double pivot. There was some repetition in attack. Pacheco, Juanpi, Koné and Blanco Leschuk were again in the starting line-up. Neither of the two teams dominated the initial stages of play. Juanpi had the first pass to Pacheco, but his frontal shot moved away from the goal defended by Mariño. In minute 10 of the match, the second Malaguista opportunity arrived. A run from Koné saw the ball reach Blanco Leschuk in the small area, however the rival defence anticipated the action and deflected any danger from the local goal. Five minutes later, Sporting had the replica with a chance for Djurdjevic. The shot from the Sporting striker diverted to the left of Munir’s goal.
Genius from Koné midway through the first half narrowly missed out on a goal. A superb dribble from the Malaguista forward on the left side line, a run towards Mariño’s goal and a shot to the side of the target. In 31’ a Pacheco free kick that was repelled by the wall led to a clearance collected by Juanpi whose shot was saved by the local keeper. At half-time the scoreboard remained at 0-0.
The second half got underway with the same 22 players that ended the first half. Sporting kicked off this half with more determination. Molinero tried his luck with a shot from in front of the goal, but the Blue and Whites’ defence repelled the occasion and the ball was sent to a corner. Immediately afterwards, Juanpi was brought down inside the area and the referee awarded a penalty. Blanco Leschuk hit the post, but Juanpi caught the rebound with his right foot and scored the first goal for the visitors in minute 67 of play. Baraja made some changes, bringing on Geraldes and Neftali for Pablo Pérez and Molinero. Muñiz introduced Renato Santos in place of Pacheco. Sporting were then awarded a penalty which Carmona converted (1-1). Three minutes later, Blanco Leschuk hit the post following an Iván Rodríguez cross. The second Malaguista goal came in minute 80, the work of Koné who made the most of another clearance and powered the ball to the back of the net (1-2). In 86’, Héctor stepped on to the pitch in place of Koné and minutes later Keidi replaced Boulahroud. In the 94th minute Carmona scored the equaliser for the locals (2-2).
