It was a chilly night in Vitoria for the last League match of 2017. There were numerous new faces in Míchel’s starting-11, including the Blue and Whites’ debut of Ignasi Miquel at the back, and Luis Hernández in place of sanctioned Rosales on the right wing. Kuzmanovic also returned to the line-up, on the pivot, for absent Adrián. Ontiveros and Rolan completed the new additions to the starting line-up.
Alavés got off to a vigorous start, fruit of this was Munir in minutes 11 and 13, who found himself alone in front of Roberto, and subjected to two saves from the Madrid-born keeper. Following this strong start by the home side, Málaga got into the game with ball possession being their best weapon. Recio, in 32’, tried his luck with a free kick, causing trouble for Pacheco. Control of the game, even without clear chances, belonged to a serious MCF.
At half-time, the scoreboard at Mendizorroza displayed 0-0.
In the second half, like in the first, Munir could have put the locals in front in the 51st minute. An Ibai cross shot was deflected by Roberto, and the former Barça player sent the ball over the crossbar. In 56’, Fede Ricca replaced Diego González on the left, returning to the field of play after a long period of inactivity. Munir, in 59’, executed a shot that collided with the Malaguista left post.
Immediately afterwards, Munir put Abelardo’s men in the lead (1-0, 60’). In 65’, Peñaranda, with visible physical discomfort, was substituted on the attack by Borja. Málaga, little by little, attempted to overcome the rival goal by generating play on the wings, but lacked effectiveness in the shots. Mula, for Kuzmanovic, was the last Malaguista substitution in the final stage of play.
The recently incorporated homegrown player launched a good shot from a corner in minute 79. In the last minutes of the match, Míchel’s men kept up their search for an equaliser but they didn’t get a reward, claiming no points from their second consecutive visit to the Basque Country.
