The Malaguistas visited La Romareda this Sunday to face Real Zaragoza on matchday six of LaLiga SmartBank. Coach Pellicer introduced four changes to the starting line-up in relation to last week: Juan Soriano, player number 383 to make his Malaguista debut, along with Iván Calero, Ramón and Chavarría joining the starting-11 for the first time this season.
The versatile Italian-Argentinean was the most active player in the first half. He generated the first Malaguista attacking actions, with attempts to connect with his teammate Caye, and a manoeuvre inside the area that ended with a shot that was repelled by the local defence.
It was minute 14 of play when Luis Muñoz opened the game up with a long ball to the left, controlled by Yanis who set up a header for Chavarría to surpass goalkeeper Cristian Álvarez. The goal was celebrated twice as it was checked by VAR before the 0-1 went up on the scoreboard. The Malaguistas, dressed in green and purple today, suffocated the Whites with very high pressure throughout the match. In 26’, Chavarría entered from the right and assisted with a low cross to Caye, who netted the 0-2 from inside the area. Pellicer’s men maintained control of play until half-time, although Juan Soriano made a superb save in stoppage time, making a clearance with his right leg from an attempt a few metres from the goal by Zanimacchia.
The locals made a double substitution and got off to an energetic start in the second half, however it was Málaga who came close to increasing their lead thanks to Chavarría, but his left-footer grazed the post, following a move by Yanis. The former Malaguista captain, Adrián came on in 65’, which led to the best moments of the match for the home side, including an attempt from Narváez from the left of the area that narrowly missed the target. Carlos Nieto, Vuckic, Papunashvili and again Narváez came close to a goal, until Adrián complied with the unwritten law of scoring against his former team and finished a Narváez cross in 83’. In the final minutes, Pellicer’s men knew how to suffer to hold on to the result, taking all three points from La Romareda, where no other team has won up to now this season.
Málaga CF have 10 points following matchday six of LaLiga Smartbank, and will be in action again on Thursday 22nd at 21:30 against Sporting de Gijón at La Rosaleda.
