Within the first few minutes of the match, the home side took the initiative and dominated the game, determined to score. They were close to being a goal up, following a Cazorla free kick, a shot by Rondón, and an impressive attacking display.
Sporting maintained an intense defence, looking for a set piece to create danger for the Blue and Whites keeper. However within the first 20 minutes, Pellegrini’s men demonstrated their varied level of attack, with corners, free kicks, long shots, including a shot at goal from Eliseu, saved by Sporting keeper, Juan Pablo, who sent the ball to a corner.
The first clear shot at goal took place in the first 30 minutes of the match, with a fantastic Rondón header, which hit the goalpost, after a throw-in from Joaquín on the right. Sporting reacted quickly to Málaga’s chances, although couldn’t gain possession, aside from one shot that went way over the bar.
Great play from Martín Demichelis, after various headers, saw him take a shot at goal, with the ball going to the far right of the net.
The first 45 minutes ended with a powerful final shot from Santi Cazorla, saved by Juan Pablo.
The second half got underway with a brilliant chance for Málaga in the first minute, following a great shot by Joaquín, again saved by Juan Pablo. However only seconds later, the Sporting keeper couldn’t prevent a fantastic shot by Salomón Rondón, that started with a corner, which the Venezuelan-born striker headed into goal. The Blue and Whites were in the lead by one goal to nil, in the fourth minute of the second half.
After their goal, Málaga continued with the same style of play, and immediately went in search of goal number two to secure the match, and prevent a Sporting equaliser.
Monreal had the chance to score Málaga’s second goal, with a pass from Cazorla, but the ball just skimmed past the goal, hitting the post, in the 65th minute of the match. Joaquín played great football in tonight’s match, creating chances for his team mates and setting up several goal opportunities.
As time went on, the style and rhythm of the game remained the same; with a continued attack by the Blue and Whites, and a number of saves by Juan Pablo, including a shot by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had just come on to the pitch, as well as Portuguese midfielder Duda.
Sporting made little impact on the pitch throughout the game, failing to create any danger for Málaga keeper Kameni, apart from a final attempt to score just before the 90 minutes was up.
The final minutes of the match saw Sporting desperately trying to prevent a second Málaga goal, particularly after Isco was sent off for a double yellow card, four minutes before the end. As the referee blew the final whistle, the Blue and Whites had secured a victory.
Málaga Club de Fútbol defeated Sporting de Gijón by one goal to nil, thanks to a goal from Rondón, which sees the Blue and Whites finish fourth in the BBVA League, and qualification for the UEFA Champions League, for the first time in the Club’s history.
Match statistics
Málaga CF: Kameni; Jesús Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Isco, Camacho, Cazorla, Eliseu © (Duda 69’); Joaquin (Sergio Sánchez 56’) and Rondón
Real Sporting de Gijón: Juan Pablo; Damián, Botía, Gregory, Alex Menéndez; Gálvez, Lora; Trejo (Cases 65’), De las Cuevas, Ayoze (Colunga 46’); Sangoy.
Goals:
1-0 (49’): Rondón.
Referee:
Delgado Ferreiro (Basque Country): Yellow cards were awarded to Málaga’s Camacho and Cazorla, as well as a double yellow for Isco, which saw him sent off; and Sporting’s Damián, Menéndez, Gálvez and Botía.
Information:
The 38th BBVA League match, held in La Rosaleda in Málaga.
