Málaga and Espanyol Face Pressure After Difficult Runs at La Rosaleda
Málaga CF hosted Espanyol at Estadio La Rosaleda on La Liga’s eighth match day, with the hosts bottom of the table and both teams coming off defeats. Málaga…
Málaga vs Espanyol brought urgent table pressure to Estadio La Rosaleda, where Málaga CF hosted the eighth match day of La Liga. The hosts entered the game in 20th place with three points, while Espanyol sat 15th with seven.
Both sides arrived after defeats, and the result mattered most to a Málaga team seeking to end a seven-match winless run. A live report by AS recorded a 1-1 goal for Málaga from Adrián Niño.
The match paired two struggling teams, but Málaga’s position made the points especially important. The club had lost its previous fixture 1-0 to Getafe CF, while Espanyol had been beaten 1-3 by Elche CF.
Málaga vs Espanyol: a difficult run for both sides
Málaga had gone seven consecutive matches without a win and was coming off two straight defeats, according to the preview published by sports.yahoo.com. The team had also conceded goals in three consecutive matches and had gone three consecutive home matches without a win.
Espanyol’s recent record was also under strain. The visitors had one win in their previous six matches, were on a two-match run without a win and had suffered two consecutive defeats. Yet they had scored in seven straight matches, including three consecutive away games.
Those contrasting streaks shaped the stakes at La Rosaleda. Málaga needed to turn home pressure into points, while Espanyol had a scoring run to protect despite its recent losses.
The teams’ earlier meetings favored Espanyol overall. They had met 78 times, with Espanyol winning 31 and Málaga 25. At La Rosaleda, Málaga held the advantage, with 17 wins in 39 matches; Espanyol had won 11 there.
In Spanish League matches, the record was closer: the clubs had played 70 times, with Málaga winning 24, drawing 20 and Espanyol winning 26. Their last recorded meeting had ended in a 3-0 Espanyol victory.
Adrián Niño levels the score
AS’s live commentary reported that Adrián Niño scored for Málaga to make it 1-1, placing a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom-right corner after Rafita delivered a cross.
The report also recorded Málaga creating further chances. Adrián Niño had a shot from outside the box saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Ángel Fortuño, while Pablo Martínez struck the crossbar with a free kick. Málaga also won corners and attacking free kicks as it pressed for an opening.
Espanyol threatened too. Roberto Fernández forced a save from Málaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, and Cala missed a free kick from outside the box during added time. The fourth official announced three minutes of added time.
Disciplinary incidents punctuated the closing stages. Adam Aznou, Roger Hinojo and Clemens Riedel were shown yellow cards, according to the live report.
For Málaga, the 1-1 goal offered a response in a match played under the pressure of its place at the bottom of the table. The live account’s recorded score was 1-1.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
