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The winning feeling is back! (2-0)

Victory for Málaga CF against Girona FC, at La Rosaleda, on matchday 36 of LaLiga SmartBank. Goals from Cifu and Sadiku led to the team’s first win following the restart of the competition this June.

Blue and White coach, Sergio Pellicer maintained the system of three central defenders and two fullbacks, with the main change, in regard to Lugo, being Tete Morente on the left wing.

In the first minute of play, Keidi tried his luck with a shot blocked by the rival keeper. Girona enjoyed more possession in the initial stages of play, however Málaga created more danger with rapid transitions and a highly active Cifu and Juankar.

Stuani, the ‘pichichi’ of the silver division, forced Munir to appear in 16’, although the first approach by the visitors was declared offside. Coincidentally, it was the prelude to the Malaguista goal. A remarkable drive from Juanpi combined with Tete, the latter who crossed the ball to the far post for Cifu to head into the back of the net against his former team. A superb collective goal (1-0, 20’).

Two minutes later, more good news for MCF. A hard tackle from Rivera led to him being shown the red card, leaving Girona with 10 men midway through the first half. Martí’s men, again with Stuani taking centre stage, reacted in 41’ with a goal from the striker that was deemed offside by VAR.

Before half-time, Málaga narrowly missed out on the 2-0. Tete, in 44’ and Adrián in stoppage time, came within a whisker of increasing their team’s lead.

In the second half, following a dangerous counter-attack from Girona led by former Malaguista Ignasi Miquel, in 47’, the long-awaited second goal arrived. Tete, again from the left, set up a perfect ball for Sadiku to launch into the goal (2-0, 49’). The 13th goal for the Albanian.

The visitors sought to narrow the gap, particularly from the set piece, but Munir and the defence obstructed the rival’s attempts. Cifu and Juankar, deep and vertical, created promising opportunities to increase the home side’s advantage in 56’ and 66’ respectively. The first setback of the match came in 74’ when Adrián was sent off with a red card, leaving both teams with 10 men on the pitch at Martiricos.

Pellicer immediately introduced fresh legs to the wide area with Benkhemassa – on his 27th birthday – coming on in place of Juanpi in 79’ Five minutes later, there was a double substitution, with Renato and Buenacasa in substitution of Tete and Sadiku, who was shown the yellow card just before leaving the pitch (which carries suspension). Mikel and Rolón, for Keidi and Diego, in minute 90, were the coach’s final changes of the game.

With no time for more, the final whistle gave Málaga CF three crucial points to put them in 15th place with 44 points after 36 matches in LaLiga SmartBank. Vamos, Málaga!