Goalkeeper, Andrés Prieto represented the main change to José González’s starting-11, debuting at home in an official League game. The rival took an early lead thanks to team captain, Manu García, with a good left-footer from inside the area (0-1, 3’). Alavés continued to dominate until midway through the first half, as Rolan and Lestienne began to make regular appearances on the wings.
A header from the Belgian winger, from a Lacen cross in 19’ came close to a tie. In addition, Ideye in 33’ missed out on an equaliser in a one-on-one with Pacheco. Andrés Prieto, in 37’, repelled a toxic shot from Torres in front of the target. Málaga continued, without success, to level up the scoreboard before half-time, against a compact Alavés in defence, always ready to launch a rapid counter-attack.
In the second half, Borja replaced Ideye on the tip of the Malaguista attack. No sooner had play resumed, Lestienne with a low shot that grazed the left post, narrowly missed out on a goal in 47’. The number ‘22’, talented and vertical in play, generated a constant danger on the wing. A corner forced by him led to a subsequent header from Adrián that nearly found the net in 52’.
Abelardo’s men, little by little, took the pulse of the match again, with Guidetti and Ibai as the main attacking resources. In 65’, Iturra came on in place of Lacen in midfield for the Blue and Whites. Improvement from the visitors was reflected in their second goal, the subtle work of Demirovic (0-2, 68’). Immediately afterwards, an impressive, unstoppable left-footer from Ibai sneaked into the net (0-3, 70’).
Prieto, with a good save, prevented another Demirovic goal in 76’. Five minutes later, José González made his final substitution, bringing on Bueno in place of Rolan. Ibai, a prodigy kicking with the outside of the foot, nearly got another goal in 85’. A Diego González header forced Pacheco to make a superb intervention in minute 87. And Borja, in stoppage time, missed out on a goal from a one-on-one with the rival keeper. The final score was 0-3, reflecting the good work of Alavés against an MCF who remains in last place in the standings with 20 points.
