The first cross shot from Espanyol didn’t present any danger. Later Málaga gained possession in the centre with Gámez and Joaquín. But the first goal of the game, came from the left wing, with a great pass from midfield to Monreal, who controlled the ball to the back line, crossed to Salomón Rondón between the Espanyol central defence, and sailed perfectly past Cristian Álvarez.
With Málaga one goal up, Espanyol tried to react and create danger, but the local side, who dominated the match, created several opportunities, amongst them Demichelis and Rondón, following a couple of ace shots from Duda.
During this part of the match, the backlash was the only opportunity for Espanyol, however Málaga were very comfortable, not only with the ball, but putting pressure on the opposition when they went near Willy Caballero’s goal area.
Half an hour in and Málaga continued to dominate the game and the ball, a situation that resulted in yellow cards for Forlín and Weiss, both incidents involving Duda.
Whilst pressure was put on Álvaro on the Catalán side, Málaga found Isco, Duda, Rondón and Joaquín to be the most dynamic force in the blues and whites attack. Joaquín made a brilliant pass to Rondón, who was unable on two occasions to score, due to great intervention from Cristian Álvarez.
With four consecutive corners for Málaga, luck was on the Catalán team’s side, when in minute 44, Álvaro managed to score a goal, following an earlier foul, leaving a one all draw at half time.
The second half began with little changes for either team, with Espanyol in possession of the ball in the first few minutes. The Duda-Monreal-Rondón connection was again in force, but without the same result as in the first half. Málaga was soon creating danger for the opposition, with an attempt at goal from Cazorla, which hit the post, saved by Cristian Álvarez.
The best chance for Espanyol to start the second half came with the appearance of Sergio Sánchez, with a shot at goal that was rejected by Willy Caballero, for being a hand ball.
The match continued with both teams creating danger for the opposition, with chances for Álvaro and Rondón, who were unable to connect with Joaquín from the right wing.
Half way through the second half, Pellegrini changed Isco and Duda, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Apoño were brought on. It was Apoño who scored the second goal for Málaga with a penalty following a handball from Romaric to Jesús Gámez.
With the score in their favour, Málaga moved forward to force Espanyol to attack further and move quicker, the result of pressure and great work, particularly by Frenchman Toulalan.
With dangerous passes from Espanyol and a great chance for Joaquín, intercepted by Sergio Sánchez, Málaga spent the last minutes of the game with the score so tight, leaving the fans very nervous, on another Sunday where the players didn’t rest at all.
The final score was a victory for Málaga by two goals to one, a win that leaves them with 16 points and returning to Europa League positions, in the Liga BBVA.
The match:
Málaga CF: Willy, Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal, Joaquín, Toulalan, Duda (Apoño 68’), Isco (van Nistelrooy 68’), Cazorla and Rondón.
RCD Espanyol: C.Alvares, Galán, Raúl R., H. Moreno, Didac (Pandiani 75’), Datolo, Forlin (Raúl Baena ), Romaric, Weiss (Sergio García 54’), Verdú, Álvaro.
Goals:
1-0 (6’): Rondón.
1-1 (45’): Álvaro.
2-1 (73’): Apoño (pen.).
Referee:
Delgado Ferreiro. Gave yellow cards to Weiss, Forlín, Galán, Cristian and Álvarez.
With Málaga one goal up, Espanyol tried to react and create danger, but the local side, who dominated the match, created several opportunities, amongst them Demichelis and Rondón, following a couple of ace shots from Duda.
During this part of the match, the backlash was the only opportunity for Espanyol, however Málaga were very comfortable, not only with the ball, but putting pressure on the opposition when they went near Willy Caballero’s goal area.
Half an hour in and Málaga continued to dominate the game and the ball, a situation that resulted in yellow cards for Forlín and Weiss, both incidents involving Duda.
Whilst pressure was put on Álvaro on the Catalán side, Málaga found Isco, Duda, Rondón and Joaquín to be the most dynamic force in the blues and whites attack. Joaquín made a brilliant pass to Rondón, who was unable on two occasions to score, due to great intervention from Cristian Álvarez.
With four consecutive corners for Málaga, luck was on the Catalán team’s side, when in minute 44, Álvaro managed to score a goal, following an earlier foul, leaving a one all draw at half time.
The second half began with little changes for either team, with Espanyol in possession of the ball in the first few minutes. The Duda-Monreal-Rondón connection was again in force, but without the same result as in the first half. Málaga was soon creating danger for the opposition, with an attempt at goal from Cazorla, which hit the post, saved by Cristian Álvarez.
The best chance for Espanyol to start the second half came with the appearance of Sergio Sánchez, with a shot at goal that was rejected by Willy Caballero, for being a hand ball.
The match continued with both teams creating danger for the opposition, with chances for Álvaro and Rondón, who were unable to connect with Joaquín from the right wing.
Half way through the second half, Pellegrini changed Isco and Duda, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Apoño were brought on. It was Apoño who scored the second goal for Málaga with a penalty following a handball from Romaric to Jesús Gámez.
With the score in their favour, Málaga moved forward to force Espanyol to attack further and move quicker, the result of pressure and great work, particularly by Frenchman Toulalan.
With dangerous passes from Espanyol and a great chance for Joaquín, intercepted by Sergio Sánchez, Málaga spent the last minutes of the game with the score so tight, leaving the fans very nervous, on another Sunday where the players didn’t rest at all.
The final score was a victory for Málaga by two goals to one, a win that leaves them with 16 points and returning to Europa League positions, in the Liga BBVA.
The match:
Málaga CF: Willy, Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal, Joaquín, Toulalan, Duda (Apoño 68’), Isco (van Nistelrooy 68’), Cazorla and Rondón.
RCD Espanyol: C.Alvares, Galán, Raúl R., H. Moreno, Didac (Pandiani 75’), Datolo, Forlin (Raúl Baena ), Romaric, Weiss (Sergio García 54’), Verdú, Álvaro.
Goals:
1-0 (6’): Rondón.
1-1 (45’): Álvaro.
2-1 (73’): Apoño (pen.).
Referee:
Delgado Ferreiro. Gave yellow cards to Weiss, Forlín, Galán, Cristian and Álvarez.
