Manuel Pellegrini’s team could’ve notched up goals on the scoreboard in the first few moments of the match on two occasions if Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s attempts to follow through on some great passes by Joaquín had come to fruition. Roberto, the Zaragoza goalie, saved both shots from the Dutch-born Málaga player who still hasn’t been able to score this season – and hopes were high as this pitch has been favourable for him in the past.
During the first 45 minutes of the match there weren’t too many signs of danger for either team, especially for goalkeeper Willy Caballero who scarcely moved during this period thanks to great performances for defenders Demichelis, Mathijsen, Eliseu, Sergio Sánchez- who was substituting for the injured Jesús Gámez – and Toulalan, who once again had a great match and helped support the form of the game in attack.
It was Baptista, in this first half, who once again caused some drama around the Zaragoza area with a direct free kick that hit Roberto’s right goal post. The team, trained by Javier Aguirre, had the young Juan Carlos, who is becoming one of the key players in the Zaragoza side, cut dead this great opportunity for Málaga. The stand-out moment in the remaining time of the first half was the substitution made by Zaragoza, following Mateos’ accidental injury. He was replaced by Lanzaro in minute 32.
With the second half beginning 0-0, Málaga Club de Fútbol began to take control of the game, creating various clear opportunities that derailed the defence around Roberto’s area. Amongst these chances was the time Toulalan made a brilliant pass to Baptista, who was a hair’s breadth from scoring.
For Zaragoza, it was Juan Carlos on the left wing, who continued to cause the danger, and who caused Sergio Sánchez to get given a yellow card in his debut match of the season. Zaragoza had more possession than Málaga although they failed to make any clear chances. It was in minute 58 that Manuel Pellegrini, decided to substitute Rondón with Van Nistelrooy, as he looked to pick up the pace in attack against the opponents. The game transformed with Málaga becoming superior and they could’ve walked away with the three points on two further occasions but the attempts were once again thwarted by Roberto’s quick reflexes.
Isco and Seba Fernández, who came on in the final few minutes of the game for Joaquín and Baptista respectively, also spun a web that could’ve secured a Málaga win. The Malagueño striker reached the bottom line on the right and made a great pass to the Uruguayan, but it was saved again by Zaragoza’ veteran saviour, Roberto
A goaless draw in La Romareda means that Málaga Club de Fútbol is now sixth position on the table, and still in European positions. The Club continues to be the one who has conceded the least number of goals in the First Division this season, with only two goals conceded in the first match of the league in a match against Sevilla FC. And Willy Caballero, up until now, remains as the player with the most amount of time on the pitch with 420 consecutive minutes played.
MATCH:
Line-up:
Real Zaragoza: Zaragoza: Roberto, Juarez, Mateos, Da Silva, Paredes; F. Meida, Luís García, Ponzio, Barrera, J. Carlos, Helder Postiga.
Also plated: Lanzaro, Lafita and Rubén Micael.
Málaga CF: Willy; Sergio Sánchez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Eliseu; Joaquín, Toulalan, Duda, Cazorla, Baptista and Van Nistelrooy.
Also played: Rondón, Isco and Seba Fernández
Goals:
No goals.
Referee:
Estrada Fernñandez.
He gave a yellow card to Zaragoza’s F. Meira and Málaga’s Sergio Sánchez.
Notes:
Sixth match of the BBVA league, played in Zaragoza’s La Romareda stadium.
