Málaga CF suffered a loss against Real Racing Club, at La Rosaleda, on matchday 30 of LaLiga SmartBank. A goal from Vicente in 67’ resolved the match in the visitors’ favour.
There was an impressive atmosphere at Martiricos - all tickets sold out - on this cold and rainy afternoon. On the pitch, Pellicer made only one change to his starting-11 compared to the previous match in Granada. Luis Muñoz took over from Febas, who was suspended from this game.
The match got off to an abrupt start, leaving Esteban Burgos with a bleeding head after a fortuitous collision with a rival. The first arrival in the Racing goal was the work of Luis Muñoz in 12'. After the first quarter of an hour, Lago Junior appeared. First, with a cross that Rubén Castro attempted to convert (16'); then immediately afterwards, with a distant shot that Parera deflected to a corner (18').
Málaga continued to subdue their opponent and intensified their shots. Luis, once again, tried his luck with a header from a Cristian cross (21'). Fran Villalba also attempted a low shot (24') and then afterwards a wall with Rubén Castro (29'). Meanwhile, the rival team led by former Malaguista coach, José Alberto tried to hold back in defence and seek out a quick transition.
The best chance of the first half stemmed from Rubén Castro, who in 37' launched the ball at close range, but Parera put paid to his attempts with a good save. The 'killer' from the Canary Islands, in minute 40, also tried with another shot at goal. At halftime, the scoreboard remained at 0-0.
As play resumed, in minute 46 the referee sent off Genaro after a hard challenge from the Sevilla-born pivot against an opponent. With numerical superiority, Racing had more possession of the ball against a more withdrawn Málaga.
Visitor Aldasoro, in 59', propelled a shot near the right post. A minute later, Pellicer made a double substitution bringing on Juande and N'Diaye for Burgos and Luis Muñoz. Juergen, in 62', kicked the ball into the hands of Yáñez.
The visitors took the lead midway through the second half via Iñigo Vicente (0-1, 67'). In 71', Pellicer made an attacking substitution, Fran Sol, for Ramalho. The number '9' from Madrid tried a header in 76' from a Lago Junior cross.
The final stretch of play featured MCF going all out for an equaliser and Racing’s counterattacks to seal the win. Mboula, in 86', had the 0-2 in his boots. In 89', Loren and Appiah replaced Delmás and Lago Junior. In stoppage time, Rubén Castro and Appiah each generated chances, but the ball didn’t go in.
The 0-1 defeat leaves Málaga CF in 20th position in the standings after 30 games played, with 25 points, 10 away from safety.
