Much-improved Malaga pick up a point in new boss's first match in charge
José González was in the dug-out as the Blue and Whites drew with high-flying Eibar
Daryl Finch
Viernes, 26 de enero 2018, 18:20
The new era at Malaga got off to a good start as the side picked up a point from a difficult trip to the Basque Country where they took on high-flying Eibar in the rain on Monday night.
Surprisingly, the new boss repeated the same starting XI as his successor from the previous match day but with a different shape: José Recio in support of frontman Youssef En-Nesyri.
The latter enjoyed much greater support than he did on that fateful night in Madrid. He didnt need it, however, in the 16th minute when he intercepted Ander Capas poor pass on the half-way line before sprinting towards goal and slotting underneath Marko Dmitrovic between the sticks Malagas first goal since 10 December in the 2-0 win away to Real Sociedad.
The Moroccan then found himself in a similar position later in the half could only drag his shot across goal under pressure.
It was the visitors who continued to look the more likely to score as the half progressed with former Eibar winger Keko firing a shot just beyond the post after the ball broke to him following a corner kick.
In what could have been an exact repeat of En-Nesyris goal in the opening stages of the second half, Adrián González fired straight at the keeper when he had all the time in the world. Chory Castro should have done much better on the rebound but lifted the ball into row Z.
González: The match could have gone either way
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I don't really know how to feel. I think we could have won the game but at the end we could have lost it too, said new Malaga boss José González in his post-match press conference.
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When you come to Ipurua you have to play a certain way and we did that well. Girona next week will be a completely different test but things will improve, he said.
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The coach had sympathy for Mula and his late miss He is a young player and has a lot to offer going forward.
While a lot of positives could be taken from the new coach's first game in charge, some things will need a little more work on the training ground to iron out. After 75 minutes, Eibar grabbed an equaliser courtesy of yet another defensive error: Roberto Rosales miskicked his clearance before deflecting substitute Bebés low cross into a position from which Kike couldnt miss. Malaga had shot themselves in the foot once again.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic, who came on for Recio in the 83rd minute, managed to make it a nervy finish for Malaga when he picked up two yellow cards in the space of a minute in stoppage time, just as his side where threatening a winner with both Manuel Iturra and Alex Mula coming close in the 91st minute.
A draw ends Malagas four-match losing streak a period in which the side hadnt scored a goal and which ultimately cost Míchel his job.
