With Leschuk spearheading the team, the initial stages of play involved a lot of back and forth between both sides. The first 10 minutes of the first half passed without any chances for either team although the locals attempted a number of lateral crosses to no avail. Koné came close to connecting a superb pass from Pacheco behind the rival defence, but the Osasuna keeper, Rubén, came out in time to clear the ball with his head. The locals replicated in minute 18. A shot from Brandon from the edge of the area was saved by Munir without any problem. Two minutes later, Pau opened the scoring. The goal arose from a Pacheco free kick to the near post and a subsequent shot from the Malaguista central defender with the left foot, which Rubén was unable to prevent.
Osasuna came close to a leveller shortly afterwards with a clear opportunity that grazed the left post defended by Munir. Juanpi had to be replaced by Ontiveros due to a strain to both calf muscles. Five minutes before the half-time whistle the local side enjoyed another goal chance with a low shot at the target that didn’t cause too much trouble. Málaga CF maintained a 0-1 lead after 45 minutes.
The Reds went out in search of a goal as the second half got up and running, with various approaches that didn’t materialise on clear occasions. Muñiz made some changes at the start of the second half due to another injury, this time it was Koné. Héctor came on in substitution of the Ivory Coast-born striker. Ricca was shown the yellow card, his fifth in the cycle, after cutting up a rival on the left wing. Osasuna kept insisting but Munir saved the rival’s attempts. Blanco Leschuk was sent out by the referee in 74’ due to a second yellow card.
In the closing stages the local side went level. A free kick from Juan Villar made it all square at 1-1. Immediately afterwards the ref showed the red card to Osasuna’s Xisco and Malaguista N’Diaye. Adrián and Ontiveros were also shown the yellow card and will miss out on the match against Sporting de Gijón. Little more than five minutes before the end, Osasuna went in front with a free kick from Roberto Torres that Munir didn’t manage to save (2-1).
