The match started off at a relaxed pace, though the home side had majority possession, looking for their first attack playing long balls. However a penalty in the fourth minute put Rayo Vallecano ahead, after a tackle on Armenteros by Jesús Gámez, with Diego Costa scoring from the penalty spot. Málaga immediately went on the attack, and after a superb kick from Joaquín, which ended in a low shot, saved by Joel, the Blues and Whites had several important chances to equalise in the first 15 minutes, with great action by Cazorla, Isco, Eliseu and Joaquín.
Whilst still a goal down, the match so far belonged to Málaga, with a header from Weligton, which bounced off the crossbar, their closest chance to equalise with the visitors.
The home side had to wait until the 35th minute, which was not only the best part of the match, but also put the scoreboard level: Joaquín started off from the left wing, passing to Isco, Cazorla, and finally Eliseu, who to the right of the penalty area crossed to Rondón, who then jumped to a powerful header forcing the ball to the back of the net, to score the equaliser for Málaga.
Rayo Vallecano did then try to retaliate and create danger in the area for Willy Caballero, but it was Málaga again who had clear chances at goal, to end half time with the advantage over the visitors, particularly with three shots from Eliseu which couldn’t find the back of the net. However at the end of the 45 minutes, the 1-1 draw didn’t do justice to the fantastic football seen in this first half.
The second half got underway basically in the same way as the first. A powerful shot at goal from Piti for Rayo was saved by Willy Caballero at the front of the penalty area, 23 seconds in. Again Caballero made another save, with the ball heading to the top corner of the net, the second chance for Rayo in the second half, with Málaga starting to further develop their collective game play.
Possession was more equal during the first 15 minutes of this second half, with Rayo Vallecano having more opportunities to score than in the entire first half. But it was the home side that scored the next goal, with great play on the left ending at the feet of Eliseu, the Portuguese player passing perfectly to Rondón, who controlled the ball from behind, turned round and slammed it underneath Joel. It was minute 60 of the match and Málaga were dominating the scoreboard.
Following this second Blues and Whites goal, the match became more relaxed, although both teams did have good approach to goal, maintaining the tension, which ended in another goal from the home side. Superb play by Isco starting on the left, passing to Joaquín on the right, who moved back for Gámez, who passed to Maresca, to score the third Málaga goal in the 70th minute.
With Málaga having a clear lead, the flow of the match changed, resulting in a faster attacking display, however two goals disallowed for the home team for being offside, and other chances to score, could have killed the game. Fortune then sided with Rayo, with another penalty, this time caused by Willy Caballero, and the second goal for the visitors scored by Trashorras. The score was 3-2 to Málaga with 5 minutes to go, when another player, recently brought on to the pitch, Duda, with a pass from Cazorla, scored the fourth Málaga goal of the match, with a superb shot from outside the area.
The final minutes of the match served to certify another victory for Málaga Club de Fútbol, their fifth consecutive home win, and who are now in fifth position, tied fourth, in the BBVA League, with 44 points.
Match statistics
Málaga CF: Caballero; Jesús Gámez, Weligton, Mathijsen, Monreal; Joaquín (Seba 76’), Demichelis; Cazorla (Duda 84’), Eliseu (Maresca 68’), Isco; Rondón.
Rayo Vallecano: Joel, Tito, Arribas (Tamudo 83’), Pulido, Casado, Piti, Javi Fuego, Movilla (Trashorras 71’), Armenteros (Lass 60’), Michu and Diego Costa.
Goals:
0-1 (04’): Diego Costa.
1-1 (35’): Rondón
2-1 (60’): Rondón
3-1 (70’): Maresca
3:2 (84’): Trashorras
4-2 (86’): Duda
Referee:
Mateu Lahoz, Colegio Valenciano: Awarded yellow cards to Málaga’s Jesús Gámez, Maresca and Willy Caballero; and from the visitors; Arribas, Diego Costa, Tito and Casado.
Information
29th BBVA League match, held in La Rosaleda Stadium in Málaga.
Whilst still a goal down, the match so far belonged to Málaga, with a header from Weligton, which bounced off the crossbar, their closest chance to equalise with the visitors.
The home side had to wait until the 35th minute, which was not only the best part of the match, but also put the scoreboard level: Joaquín started off from the left wing, passing to Isco, Cazorla, and finally Eliseu, who to the right of the penalty area crossed to Rondón, who then jumped to a powerful header forcing the ball to the back of the net, to score the equaliser for Málaga.
Rayo Vallecano did then try to retaliate and create danger in the area for Willy Caballero, but it was Málaga again who had clear chances at goal, to end half time with the advantage over the visitors, particularly with three shots from Eliseu which couldn’t find the back of the net. However at the end of the 45 minutes, the 1-1 draw didn’t do justice to the fantastic football seen in this first half.
The second half got underway basically in the same way as the first. A powerful shot at goal from Piti for Rayo was saved by Willy Caballero at the front of the penalty area, 23 seconds in. Again Caballero made another save, with the ball heading to the top corner of the net, the second chance for Rayo in the second half, with Málaga starting to further develop their collective game play.
Possession was more equal during the first 15 minutes of this second half, with Rayo Vallecano having more opportunities to score than in the entire first half. But it was the home side that scored the next goal, with great play on the left ending at the feet of Eliseu, the Portuguese player passing perfectly to Rondón, who controlled the ball from behind, turned round and slammed it underneath Joel. It was minute 60 of the match and Málaga were dominating the scoreboard.
Following this second Blues and Whites goal, the match became more relaxed, although both teams did have good approach to goal, maintaining the tension, which ended in another goal from the home side. Superb play by Isco starting on the left, passing to Joaquín on the right, who moved back for Gámez, who passed to Maresca, to score the third Málaga goal in the 70th minute.
With Málaga having a clear lead, the flow of the match changed, resulting in a faster attacking display, however two goals disallowed for the home team for being offside, and other chances to score, could have killed the game. Fortune then sided with Rayo, with another penalty, this time caused by Willy Caballero, and the second goal for the visitors scored by Trashorras. The score was 3-2 to Málaga with 5 minutes to go, when another player, recently brought on to the pitch, Duda, with a pass from Cazorla, scored the fourth Málaga goal of the match, with a superb shot from outside the area.
The final minutes of the match served to certify another victory for Málaga Club de Fútbol, their fifth consecutive home win, and who are now in fifth position, tied fourth, in the BBVA League, with 44 points.
Match statistics
Málaga CF: Caballero; Jesús Gámez, Weligton, Mathijsen, Monreal; Joaquín (Seba 76’), Demichelis; Cazorla (Duda 84’), Eliseu (Maresca 68’), Isco; Rondón.
Rayo Vallecano: Joel, Tito, Arribas (Tamudo 83’), Pulido, Casado, Piti, Javi Fuego, Movilla (Trashorras 71’), Armenteros (Lass 60’), Michu and Diego Costa.
Goals:
0-1 (04’): Diego Costa.
1-1 (35’): Rondón
2-1 (60’): Rondón
3-1 (70’): Maresca
3:2 (84’): Trashorras
4-2 (86’): Duda
Referee:
Mateu Lahoz, Colegio Valenciano: Awarded yellow cards to Málaga’s Jesús Gámez, Maresca and Willy Caballero; and from the visitors; Arribas, Diego Costa, Tito and Casado.
Information
29th BBVA League match, held in La Rosaleda Stadium in Málaga.
