Málaga rally to win relegation encounter against Almería

Andalusia Day ended up being a celebration for one of the two teams on the pitch.   Málaga fell behind after an early goal by Sofiane Feghouli but were able to bounce back with three second half goals to win 3-1 and earn a vital three points at La Rosaleda. 

Málaga played well enough to score, but once again their mistakes in the back burned them early on as a cross by Almería’s young left back Antonio Luna would be missed by Willy Caballero, Málaga’s fifth goalkeeper of the season, over on the near post and Feghouli would score in front of an open net. 

Manuel Pellegrini’s side came out with a 4-2-3-1 and had to make a last-minute substitution when Patrick Mtliga was unable to play and the Portuguese bomber Eliseu would play at left back.

José Luis Oltra came with the same formation as was to be expected as attack was the name of the game for both teams as a draw would not do either team any good.  In the end it would be Oltra and his substitutions that would be the beginning of the end for the visitors.

Early in the second half it was Oltra substituting Kalu Uche in favor of Juanito, thus losing his potential scoring punch up front.  Just minutes after it would be Enzo Maresca equalizing for the home side and what was looking as a defensive stance for Almería was completely blown up by that early equalizer.   Then Oltra would begin using his bench with the effectiveness that a band aid would have in stopping stitching up a lacerated artery.

Subtstitution errors

At that point Málaga began mounting pressure on the Almería goal, but as always it was Diego Alves that was there to keep his team in the match.  Then in the 60th minute, Oltra decides to bring in Crusat at the expense of one of Sofiane Feghouli who was the only player that really threatened the Málaga goal throughout most of the match. 

In the 78th minute, Málaga would take the lead courtesy of a José Rondón goal, his ninth of the season and then Oltra decides to bring in Henok Goitom in an effort to draw.

The win helped Málaga turn what was once a six-match winless streak into a four-match unbeaten rally that seem them two points behind Sporting Gijón in the race to avoid relegation.  

Things will not get easier for the Andalusians as they will face Real Madrid midweek as Manuel Pellegrini makes his return to the Santiago Bernabéu since he was relieved of his duties at the end of last season.  Almería in the meantime will have Racing Santander at home.

Málaga CF: Caballero; Gámez, Weligton, Demichelis, Eliseu; Quincy (Fernando, m. 82), Apoño, Recio, Camacho (Maresca, m. 46); Fernández (Juanmi, m. 72),Rondón.

Almería: Diego Alves; Míchel, Carlos García, Marcelo Silva, Luna; Mbami, Bernardello (Goitom, m. 80), Feghouli (Crusat, m. 60), Uche (Juanito, m. 50); Piatti, Ulloa.

Goals

ALM:  Feghouli (8’)

MAL: Maresca (52’)

MAL: Rondón (78’)

MAL: Juanmi (90’+1’)