Malaga F.C. 2007 - 2008

June '08 - CONGRATULATIONS To Malaga FC on a magnificent season's achievement as they clinch promotion and a return to the PRIMERA DIVISION.
Malaga were never out of the top 3 all through the season although a couple of disastrous late season home defeats and lack lustre draws allowed Sociedad and Sporting to close the points deficit and ensure a nail biting four match run in. First of the four games was away at SEVILLA ATLETICO where Malaga took an early first half lead and despite being reduced to 10 men held on comfortably for the 1-0 win. The next two match's home to CADIZ and away to GRANADA 74 produced 0-0 draws and highlighted their lack of strike power to finish off games they should have won.
The final game of the season at home to TENERIFE required a win for certain promotion, a draw or loss would mean relying on results elsewhere. On a stifling hot evening in front of 30,000 fans MALAGA did not disappoint and HIDALGO (44 & 74 min's) became the scoring hero of the day. A very late MALAGA own goal (92mins) made the score line 2-1 win and "EL ROQUERON" had become masters of their own destiny finishing in runners up spot and LA LIGA bound.

See league table

May '08 - A horrendous dip in home form due in part to a catastrophic loss of character and discipline has left MALAGA FC ruing a disastrous string o results.
A crunch home game with 4th placed REAL SOCIEDAD saw the away side take the spoils 2-0. MALAGA responded with an excellent away win 2-1 at CELTA VIGO and with the next two matches at home looked set to consolidate their league position. Sadly this was not the case and the dejected home fans saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 1-2 defeat by GIMNASTIC, and the following match a 3-1 lead turn into a 4-6 defeat by HERCULES. The outcome of this poor run has seen SPORTING leapfrog over MALAGA who drop out of the top 2 for the first time this season into 3rd sport and only 1 point ahead of 4th placed R.SOCIEDAD.
With four fixtures remaining, including away matches at SEVILLA ATLETICO and GRANADA 74 plus home games against CADIZ and TENERIFE, a tense and nervy end of season is ensured.

April '08 - Nervy times for Malaga with only 5 points gained from the last 5 matches played. Disappointing results against bottom four clubs , losing 1-0 away to XEREZ and drawing 0-0 at home to ALBACETE, was followed by away defeat 2-1 at league leaders NUMANCIA thus falling further behind them in the promotion race. A good response was required and a 3-2 home win over 3rd placed SPORTING was just the tonic. A 1-1 away draw at lowly RACING FERROL kept Malaga in 2nd place but the pressure is on.
With 8 matches remaining, 5 at home and 3 away, good home form needs to be maintained and a big test come next match at home to REAL SOCIEDAD who have forced themselves into 3rd place, 6 points behind MALAGA.

March '08 - Another 8 points gained from two draws and two wins maintain Malaga in 2nd position, 4points behind the leaders but 8 points clear of 3rd position.
In both 1-1 draws, away against EIBAR and home against POLI EJIDO, Malaga were required to come from behind with late equalisers. However two good wins followed, 2-1 away at LAS PALMAS and 2-0 at home to ELCHE.
There are still 13 matches to play and this kind of form must be maintained for the long run in to return to the top flight.

Feb '08 - Malaga F.C. remain in 2nd place behind an inform Numancia side who have recently picked up impressive away victories to open up a 3 point gap between the teams.
The Blue and Whites form seems to have been more dogged than impressive with away draws in succession 1-1 at Tenerife and 0-0 at Salamanca, followed by a 1-0 home win over Alaves.
The next match away saw Malaga take an early lead against Cordoba but succumbed to a 2-1 defeat even though the home team were reduced to 10 men. A quick response was required and in the next home game against Castellion a 3-1 victory was just the tonic and kept Malaga in a comfortable 2nd position.
As they say life is tough at the top but it beats struggling at the bottom.

Jan '08 - The final game of 2007 was another rain soaked affair at home to a young Sevilla Atletico side. In the wet and heavy conditions both teams played safe middle of the park football and a dour draw looked on the cards. However, two late substitutions saw Malaga up their attacking pace and were rewarded handsomely in the final 15 minutes breaking the deadlock and running out 3-0 winners to end the year on a high.
The first game of 2008 saw Malaga travel to Racing Santander in the Copa Del Rey second leg (first leg 0-0). With sights set on promotion back into the top flight, Manager Muniz left eight regular first team players behind. Racing controlled the game from the start and ran out worthy 2-0 winners.
In the return to league matters a difficult away game to Cadiz was the next fixture. Local derby matches are usually highly charged affairs and this one exploded into life with Malaga scoring almost from the kick off (12 seconds 1-0). This was how it stayed with Malaga hanging on despite playing the last 20 minutes with only 10 men and rewarded with a return to top spot above Numancia.
The next home match against Granada 74 saw one of the poorest performances of the season, even an early goal was not enough to fire the team. The away team soon equalised for the match to end in a tame 1-1 draw. Malaga however remain top of the league.

Dec '08 - In the first of three matches in a row against the relegated teams from La Liga, Malaga travelled to ex FULHAM manager's REAL SOCIEDAD. In pouring rain the home side took their chances to run out 2-0 winners however Malaga spurned several chances which could have made the result a different tale.
Malaga's hopes of returning to winning ways at home to CELTA VIGO were dashed by a very well organised side who outplayed and stifled the home team. This was a very tough match with four bookings on each side. At the final whistle Celta could feel disappointed with the 1-1 draw whilst Malaga might feel relieved with their point.
Away to Gymnastic, injuries and suspensions prompted a defensive looking Malaga line up and in a dour game a 1-1 draw suited the away team although they now fall back into 2nd place behind Numencia.
Another away fixture at HERCULES saw a much improved Malaga display. However, despite outplaying the home team for most of the game they found themselves one behind with 10 minutes to go. To their credit and a little good fortune a 93rd minute goal gave them a 1-1 draw and another point to stay in 2nd place.

Nov '07 - Malaga never looked like league leaders in this game losing 2-1 away to lowly ALBACETE. Even the chance of a draw was squandered when a late equalising penalty was overturned with a late penalty winner to the 10 men home team.
Malaga rued several missed chances in a 1-0 home defeat to a classy and resolute NUMANCIA side who jumped into 1st spot as a reward for their efforts. Malaga needed to get back on track and this they did with a hardworking and deserved 1-0 win away at SPORTING GIJON.
Needing to follow this up Malaga entertained RACING FERROL but a 2-0 half time deficit was a disappointment for the home fans. The second half saw a different Malaga and goals started to come with the match resulting in a 4- 2 win and a return to the top of the league.
Sandwiched in between these games was a 0-0 draw at home with RACING SANTANDER in the 4th round COPA DEL RAY (1st leg)

Oct '07 -  Although dropping their first points of the season in a 2 - 0 defeat away to a potent and determined ELCHE side, Malaga are still riding high at the top of the league table. Nine straight league and cup victories had been a great start to the season. Home wins over uncompromising teaming EIBAR (1 - 0) and LAS PALMAS (2 - 0) plus a deserved 3 - 2 victory away to POLI EJIDO maintained league prominence. Also during this great run of form came a fine 2 - 1 away victory at TENERIFE in the Copa del Rey Cup 3rd round in which several key player's wererested.
Bouncing back into winning ways with a 1 - 0 home win over XEREZ was just what the doctor ordered for both fans and players alike, keeping the club firmly on promotion track.

Sept '07 - The new season is underway and Malaga FC have posted their intentions to compete at the top of the table unlike last seasons relegation struggle.
The squad has changed dramatically with eleven new players at the ROSALEDA STADIUM this year.
Nine of these started the campaign in the first game of the season in confidence boosting a 3 - 0 home win over SALAMANCA. The best start to a season in 14 years.
A  dogged away 1 - 0 win at Alaves, followed by a great 4 - 1 home win over newly promoted CORDOBA  seems to show the new players have settled in well. An 11,000 crowd turned up to
Castellon vs Malaga and they were not disappointed with a thrilling 3-2 away win for Malaga.
With four wins out of four and 11 goals scored with only 3 against it seems Malaga have the edge at both ends of the field at the moment. It is a long hard season but with confidence high and the team gelling more with each game a bright future seems in store.