The match began with a long first possession for the Malaguistas which went from the left to the right wing. But in the recovery it was Real Sociedad who got the first corner, even though it didn’t produce the desired result for them. Immediately, Málaga responded, generating another corner in their favour.
Unlike in other matches this season at La Rosaleda, the Basques came out to take the ball from the home side, which caused alternation in attack and generated larger spaces than in previous games. Still, with the first quarter of an hour completed, Málaga began to have more chances and clearer ones at that, with free kicks and corners putting the squeeze on the visitors’ defence.
With many Malaguistas pushing forward on the attack, it was Isco who was the architect of Málaga’s goal after a right-footed shot from the left hand side of the rival’s area which goalkeeper Bravo found impossible to stop. It was 1-0 to Málaga and as Real Sociedad looked to react they had two more clear opportunities although neither one came to anything.
Alternation once again was the driving force of the match in the last few minutes of the first half in which there were some important and decisive goal chances for both teams who were demonstrating their possession and long attack capabilities. In the last Malaguista possession one of the events that shaped the game happened: the sending off of Real Sociedad’s Mikel González. This left Málaga numerically superior as the referee called half time with Málaga with a one goal advantage.
The second half started exactly how the home side didn’t want – with a goal by Real Sociedad player Xabi Prieto following a long diagonal shot in minute 48.
The Malaguistas didn’t wait to react with Maresca, Seba and then Jesús Gámez immediately all very nearly once again giving the locals the advantage back. With the draw and with one player down, Real looked comfortable even though Málaga were making continual approaches to Bravo’s goal, forcing him to make several interventions in these second 45 minutes.
But perhaps the defining moment of the match was when the Malaguista keeper, Rubén, saved a great shot from Xabi Prieto, meaning that Real Sociedad were prevented from securing their second goal. Immediately after, Eliseu, who came on in the second half, tried his luck with a long shot that just missed the net. Alongside the Portuguese-born player, Van Nistelrooy and Juanmi were also brought on in the search for that elusive second goal.
Not to be outdone, the Basque goalkeeper also saved his team by stopping at point blank range a shot from Rondón after a great pass from Isco. With five minutes to go until full time, Málaga beseiged the visitors’ area, but they defended it well, preventing the Blue and Whites from getting another goal or the three points.
With the 1-1 draw, Málaga Club de Fútbol remains in fourth position on the BBVA League table with 51 points, after 33 matches played this season.
Match details:
Málaga CF: Rubén; Gámez, Mathijsen, Weligton (C), Monreal (Juanmi 80’); Isco, Demichelis, Maresca (Eliseu 62’), Cazorla; Seba (Van Nistelrooy 57’) and Rondón.
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Estrada, Ansotegui, Mikel, De la Bella; X. Prieto, Elustondo, Illarra, Griezmann; Zurutuza and Vela (Agirretxe 69’).
Goals:
1-0 (19’): Isco
1-1 (48’): Xabi Prieto
Referee:
González González, Castellano-Leonés: Yello cards for the local side’s Mathijsen and Demichelis. The visitors’ Mikel González was sent off.
Notes:
34th match of the BBVA League, which took place at La Rosaleda stadium, Málaga. Before the match a minute’s silence was held in memory of the Italian footballer, Piermario Morosini.
