Muñiz’s men, with Fede Ricca as team captain, stepped on to the pitch with their usual solid tactics of a 4-4-2 formation with an ironclad defence and with Renato, Ontiveros and forwards Héctor and homegrown player Harper upfront. Granada, being the host team and playing the presentation match in front of their fans, got off to a better start in the first quarter of an hour.
However it was Harper, in minute 17, who came close to putting Málaga in the lead with an excellent shot from outside the area. Following a good few minutes for the Malaguistas, the locals reacted with a double occasion in 28’, in which Álex Martínez’s final attempt grazed the left post of Munir’s goal.
Before half-time there were two good opportunities for the Blue and Whites. In minute 37 Héctor headed a Renato Santos free kick near to the target; and in 44’ it was Boulahroud who tried his luck with a long shot that forced a good save from the rival keeper.
Things didn’t really change much in the second half. There was a slight territorial domination from Granada and the Málaga lads were well-positioned at the back without causing too much trouble. The first substitutions came in 54’, with the entrance of homegrown players David Ramos and Juan Cruz in place of Ontiveros and Héctor. In minute 63’ Munir made an impressive save following a close-range shot from Puertas. Vadillo and Juancho stood out for the locals, the latter coming out strongly from the bench.
Iván Jaime and Antoñín gave the team its usual stamp in the final stages which has been typical throughout the season, with a lot of focus in midfield and few approaches to the areas. Referee Figueroa Vázquez blew the final whistle at 0-0 and the match went to penalties. Goals from Adrián, Iván Jaime, Pau Torres and Ricca, plus a decisive save from Munir in Granada’s last shot, gave the Trofeo Ciudad de Granada to Málaga CF (3-4).
Muñiz chose the following line-up: Munir; Cifuentes, Luis Hernández, Pau Torres, Ricca ©; Renato Santos (Iván Jaime 66’), Boulahroud, Adrián, Ontiveros (David Ramos 54’); Harper (Antoñín 85’) and Héctor (Juan Cruz 54’).
