Munir keeps a clean sheet
The Moroccan goalkeeper is having a remarkable season in terms of the number of goals conceded. Particularly away from home. After his decisive performance in Tenerife with several superb saves, he again kept a clean sheet in Lugo for the second consecutive away game. As such, MCF is the team to have conceded the fewest goals away from home in LaLiga SmartBank, conceding 13 goals in 18 matches. Important.
New system, more consistency
Pellicer introduced a system with three centrals and two fullbacks, with Cifuentes and Juankar entering from behind on the wings with the support of two pivots Keidi and Boulahroud, another change to the starting-11, although he was substituted at half-time due to physical discomfort. The team barely had any problems in defence against the rival, remaining consistent and homogenous throughout.
Juande always delivers
The defender from The MCF Academy debuted with the first team this season, under Pellicer, with a 1-0 win against SD Ponferradina at La Rosaleda. He played like a ‘veteran’. Yesterday, on his return to the starting line-up, he gave the same feeling. He showed his solvency in defence, escorted by Lombán and Diego González. Expedient and compliant.
Three matches without defeat
The lads have now played three games without a loss. All three have ended in a draw, not quite managing to clinch victory, as we saw at the Anxo Carro, due to a few minor details. The team basically lacked punch and fluidity on the attack in order to convert the opportunities being generated. In such a tight category, scoring points is important and if you can’t win…at least don’t lose.
Standings are close
In the absence of knowing the results of direct rivals in the mid-low part of the table, such as Oviedo, Albacete and Numancia, the latter fourth from bottom with 38 points, Málaga are in 15th place with 41 points after 35 games. There’s only a narrow gap to the drop zone, although the positions in the silver division are always close. MCF’s next rival is Girona, provisionally in sixth place in the standings, just making the promotion play-off positions with +8 points more than the Blue and Whites.
