It wasn’t going to be easy. The rival has accumulated seven home wins on the bounce and sitting in third place at the start of the matchday, whilst the Malaguistas haven’t yet won away from home, and came from two consecutive defeats together with numerous absences.
José Alberto López selected a 1-4-1-4-1 formation. Dani Martín was in goal: the line of four was made up of Víctor Gómez, Lombán, Peybernes and Javi Jiménez; Escassi was the anchor; Dani Lorenzo, making his starting-11 debut, and Paulino were inside; Jairo and Brandon were on the wings and Sekou Gassama was upfront.
Despite the rain, the Blue and Whites took an early lead. The lads were dressed in the home shirt this evening, with white shorts and socks.
A play stemming from the right in which Jairo doubling Víctor Gómez, continued with a low cross to the heart of the area, assisted Sekou Gassama to get the goal with his right foot (0-1, 6').
Midway through the first half, a play arrived that conditioned the rest of the game. Referee Ávalos Barrera, after a VAR check, awarded a penalty to the home side due to a Lombán hand ball inside the area. Stoichkov beat Dani Martín to take the score level (1-1, 25').
This action spurred on the locals and momentarily impacted the Blue and Whites. To such an extent that Eibar put together a play that ended with an assist from Stoichkov and a goal from José Corpas (2-1, 27').
Following these two blows, Málaga CF tried to regain the good feelings from the first part of play. Paulino shot high from outside the area in what was the only Malaguista chance up until half-time.
There was a break in the rain at the start of the second half. Yet Eibar were awarded another penalty, another hand ball, this time by Víctor Gómez. Edu Expósito, in 54’, missed the penalty, giving the Malaguistas a lifeline.
José Alberto’s men didn’t take long to try and make a comeback. In 55’, Sekou Gassama headed the ball into the hands of Yoel after a Javi Jiménez cross from the left.
The Malaguistas continued to improve and went on to dominate the second half. Jairo with a cross shot and Brandon, with another attempt that went high, were the next to seek out the equaliser.
Hicham returned to the pitch in 71’, his first minutes of the 21/22 season, substituting homegrown player, Dani Lorenzo.
Following a few minutes around the rival goal, a right cross from Hicham allowed Brandon to find the net to take the match level (2-2, 82').
The scoreboard didn’t move again, and Málaga CF claimed a great point against one of the great teams in the silver division.
