There was a great atmosphere in the stands and the perfect weather to play football. On the pitch, Muñiz made five changes to his starting line-up in respect of the last match in Granada. On the wings, Cifuentes and Diego González replaced Iván Rodríguez and suspended Ricca; Lacen and Erik Morán on the double pivot in place of Keidi and suspended N’Diaye; and Mula, in substitution of suspended Iván Alejo played on the right wing.
The Blue and Whites completed a good first third of the match, generating a number of dangerous actions on the wings thanks to Ontiveros and Mula. Also, on set pieces, with the powerful Luis Hernández throw-ins, stalking the Extremadura area. The visitors, from their first opportunity, were most unforgiving. A set piece from Álex Díez that Lolo González headed into Munir’s goal (0-1, 32’).
Following the rival goal, Adrián (33’), Mula (38’) and Diego (41’) could have gone level with shots that didn’t manage to reach Casto Espinosa’s goal. At half-time, the scoreboard showed 0-1.
In the second half, Muñiz brought on Harper in substitution of Erik Morán, a change on the attack that would soon bear fruit. Mula, in 46’, launched a powerful shot at the target, leading to an excellent intervention by Casto. It was the prelude to the equaliser, in which two forwards joined forces. A header assist from Harper and a close-range header into goal from Blanco Leschuk (1-1, 50’). The eighth league goal, all at La Rosaleda, for the Malaguista pichichi.
Moving into the first 15 minutes of the second half, there were two good chances for the locals; a long shot from Álex Mula (61’) and a Leschuk header following a corner (64’). Again, Mula tried his luck, but skied his attempt in 67’. The visitors, with a shot from Gio Zarfino that was saved by Munir, showed up at the Blue and Whites’ area in 72’. A minute later, Hicham replaced Ontiveros.
The side from Almendralejo again took the lead thanks to a goal from Pardo (1-2, 75’). Five minutes later, the last Malaguista substitution saw Renato Santos replace Medhi Lacen. The Portuguese player, in 87’, propelled a free kick to the side of the net. Subsequently, Luis Hernández in stoppage time, tried his luck with a long shot. However, the scoreboard didn’t change, and the 1-2 final result gives the three points to Extremadura. As such, Málaga CF provisionally remains in the promotion play-off positions with 55 points.
