These are some of the highlights from #MálagaSporting held last Friday evening at La Rosaleda, ending in a 1-1 draw:
The long-awaited goal of Blanco Leschuk
Gustavo Blanco Leschuk deserved to score a goal. Together with Adrián, he is MCF’s league ‘pichichi’ with seven goals. Curiously, all of his goals have been scored at La Rosaleda. Not forgetting the Argentine’s hard work to the benefit of the team, he is the team’s best goal assistant with five goal passes. A football player with a direct impact in 12 of the 33 goals scored in LaLiga 1|2|3. A highly significant 36’3%.
Golden draw
Although Osasuna have slightly escaped at the top spot of the table, second place offering direct promotion is closer after the draw with Sporting. Granada’s defeat in Soria gives a positive value to Málaga’s point, with the Blue and Whites remaining in fourth place at the same distance away – two points – from Albacete in third place. They also let two points escape at home against Tenerife. Granada, in second place, are a victory away.
Ontiveros, the different one
If he was a bullfighter, he’d be Curro Romero. ‘Onti’, on a good day, can do almost anything with the ball in front of an opponent. As he says, it doesn’t matter to him if he’s playing at Camp Nou or Cártama. His wild, street-style football was productive against the rival from Asturias, as he successfully completed a total of seven crosses. The most memorable, without doubt, is the one that led to Seleznov’s header and a superb save from Mariño on the line to prevent the 2-1. Go, Javi!
30 years since the Merino brace
The Club, remembering the debut of Luis Merino with CD Málaga three decades ago, invited the former player from Churriana to the box at La Rosaleda. In Gijón, scoring two goals against Sporting, Merino’s fruitful career got underway with the Martiricos first team, which included an historic ascent to the Second Division (1997/98). Club advisers Ben Barek and Benítez presented him with a personalised commemorative Blue and White shirt.
A number of bookings and warnings
An intense match with several bookings for both teams. There were also two expulsions, one on each side, with Diego González sent off for the Blue and Whites. In addition, Adrián, Erik Morán and Iván Alejo were shown the yellow card, placing them, alongside Ricca, Lombán and Pacheco, one card away from suspension.
