Málaga CF drew with Burgos CF at La Rosaleda Stadium on matchday 24 of LaLiga SmartBank. Lago Junior put the Malaguistas in the lead whilst Bermejo went level for the visitors.
A sunny afternoon and a great atmosphere in the stands at Martiricos. On the pitch, Mel introduced two changes in relation to the last match in Eibar - Delmás for Ramalho as right-back, and Lago Junior for Jozabed, placing Fran Villalba on the inside and the new Ivory Coast-born signing occupying the left-wing position.
Burgos soon showed their credentials with one of their specialties, the set piece – a corner kick in minute 4 that N'Diaye cleared at the far post. Alfred himself, in the 7th minute, was held by an opponent at the exit of a corner in Málaga’s favour, but no penalty was awarded.
A quarter of an hour into play, Lago Junior, making his debut at La Rosaleda, appeared with a shot saved by Caro. MCF kept insisting and, at times, closed in a Burgos used to being comfortable in defence. Among the rival team was ex-Malaguista Matos, who was very active on the left side and stood out moving upfront.
Just before half-time the Blue and Whites opened the scoring. Lago Junior took the team 1-0 up in minute 43. At half-time, Mel’s men maintained their advantage on the scoreboard.
In the second half, Málaga CF and Burgos CF continued with their game plan. In 54’, N’Diaye was shown the yellow card that puts him alongside Febas and Loren on the verge of suspension. Calero’s men, from their first dangerous arrival in the second half were unforgiving. Bermejo took the team level (1-1, 63').
The fans didn’t get down, they kept pushing the team harder. A Rubén Castro header nearly found glory in 67’ following a Lago Junior cross. A minute later Pepe Mel made a triple substitution. Luis Muñoz, Álex Gallar and Appiah came on in place of N'Diaye, Fran Villalba and Chavarría. Then in 79’, goal-scorer Lago Junior left to applause, as Fran Sol stepped on.
Luis Muñoz tried his luck with a shot that was stopped in its tracks by Caro (80'). Loren, for Rubén Castro, was the last Blue and White change in 84'. Juande, from a Gallar lateral free kick, launched a header near the post in 88'. Yet the scoreboard didn’t move, and the final result was a 1-1 draw giving Málaga CF one more point in the standings to total 21 and in a provisional 20th place.
