Málaga CF visited FC Barcelona for LaLiga Santander matchday 9. There was a new face in goal for Míchel’s men. Keeper, Andrés Prieto debuted in the First Division, as his teammate, Roberto sustained injury.
The match became an uphill struggle for the Malaguistas almost from the start. Gerard Deulofeu put the locals in front after a controversial action in minute 2 of play. Winger, Digne’s cross looked as though it went over the line out of play, however he reclaimed the ball and propelled it to Deulofeu who sent it to the back of the net, overcoming Andrés Prieto. Neither the referee or any assistant acknowledged any overshoot of the ball, and the home side were 1-0 up.
Following this initial goal, the Blue and Whites managed to repel several attempts by the locals, as they tried to reach the area. Juankar served up a tense cross from the left, but Chory Castro didn’t connect well with a header in the 29th minute. The Malaguistas gradually began to control midfield, and at certain times they fluidly linked several plays in the wide area.
On the edge of half-time, in minute 40, Chory generated another opportunity to go level. Rosales launched a good ball from the right to the far post, but Rolan didn’t succeed with a header. Chory, who arrived right behind, had to outline a complicated foreshortening to be able to hook the ball, but it went out of play. At half-time, the scoreboard remained at 1-0.
In the second half, Juanpi stepped on to the pitch in substitution of Rolan, who was injured just before the half-time whistle. Málaga CF left the dressing room with the clear idea of perforating Ter Stegen’s goal, and within just five minutes, created various approaches to the rival area, combined with different transitions to the other half. However, as the Blue and Whites moved closer to an equaliser, Andrés Iniesta scored the 2-0 in minute 55. He slammed the ball into the back of the net, which Prieto could do little to prevent, during his notable First Division debut.
After the second goal, both sides shared opportunities. A Chory pass from the left was volleyed out by Keko Gontán in 66’, but the ball came into contact with Digne who deflected the opportunity. Eleven minutes later, Juanpi launched a free kick directly to a Luis Hernández header. The tight, tense shot went wide of the far post.
When the match was nearing its end, a superb save by Prieto following a promising Paulinho shot in 87’ and another two subsequent opportunities for Juanpi and Chory in 89’ and 90’ didn’t find the net, and the final result was 2-0.
