Málaga Club de Fútbol and Unión Deportiva Almería faced off on matchday 36 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION at the UD Almería Stadium. More than a thousand Malaguistas cheered on the team within a great atmosphere at the Indálico ground. On the pitch, Funes lined up the following starting-11: Alfonso Herrero; C. Puga, Murillo, Montero, Rafita; Rafa R., Izan M., Dotor; Joaquín, Dorrio O., and Chupe.
The match began evenly, with both sides trying to impose their game plan and trading spells of possession. The first half had no clear dominant side, although Málaga CF had the best chances through Chupe, whose angled shot went wide (17’), and Joaquín, who produced a fine dribble and a powerful effort that Ely blocked with his body (29’). At half-time, it was 0-0.
After the break, the home side took the lead through Embarba (50’).
Shortly after, the Blue and Whites had a chance to equalise following a great individual run by Joaquín down the left, but he was denied by Andrés Fernández in a one-on-one.
Alfonso Herrero then made two important saves before Rafa Rodríguez was once again stopped by the home goalkeeper.
The equaliser didn’t come, and Almería struck again, extending their lead to 2-0 with another goal from Embarba (62’).
Funes turned to the bench and made his first two changes, bringing on Aarón Ochoa and Niño for Rafa Rodríguez and Dorrio.
Málaga CF began to regain control of the match, first with a long-range effort from Dotor that went wide, and then with the move that reduced the deficit: a thunderous strike from Adrián Niño from distance that flew into the top corner (2-1, 68’).
The Malaguistas kept pushing, with a cross-shot from Rafita that Andrés Fernández sent to a corner.
Einar and Haitam came on in the second substitution window, replacing Montero and Joaquín with just under 10 minutes to play.
Moments later, Niño came close to scoring again after a lay-off from Chupe. The one who did find the net was Haitam with his very first touch, curling a shot from the right into the far post (2-2, 84’).
After levelling the match, the Blue and Whites kept pushing forward in search of a winning goal. However, it was Almería who struck again, with Baptistão scoring their third (3-2, 91’).
The final substitution saw Ramón come on for Dotor, who had taken a knock just before the home side’s third goal.
Málaga had one last chance, but Chupe’s goal in the 95th minute was ruled out for offside.
With this result, Málaga CF remain in fifth place on 60 points. Next Saturday 25th, they host CD Castellón at La Rosaleda at 21:00.
