16/07/2011. Málaga Football Club emerged victorious in its first preseason match. The game against U.D Horadada gave us the first opportunity to see Manuel Pellegrini's new team. UD Horadada put up a good fight in the 90 minutes by not making things easy, in what was the Malaga debut for seven out of the eight new signings.
Prior to the start if the game, the Mayor of Pilar de la Honorada, José Fidel Ros Samper, together with the club's president, José María Pérez Sánchez, gave a gift to Malaga Football Club, which was represented by Francisco Martín Aguilar, to thank Malaga for choosing to stay in Alicante.
The match kicked off with a very ambitious U.D Honorada, and Antonio Muñoz and Micro were the first ones to make a serious play for the ball.
But after the first quarter of an hour, Malaga took charge and began to take possession. It was Julio Baptista above all who had the ball at his feet, but for all his best efforts, his attempts were thwarted by the local goalie, Cristian.
Up until about 30 minutes in, it was a match in which no-one did anything of any note. But then leftwing midfielder, Apoño, forced the ball towards Duda on several occasions, something which Duda jumped on and took full advantage of and scored, giving them a one goal lead.
With Málaga taking charge in the game and on the score board, the first half continued with more opportunities being created, but none of which came to fruition.
Half time came and afterwards, the match continued with practically two different sets of players on both sides.
The first part of the second half was dominated by Málaga but without any clear signs of a goal. U.D Horadada took hold of the fact Malaga hadn't 'killed' the match, and went on the offensive, and at minute 55, Antonio Muñoz scored, equalising the game.
But Pellegrini's side weren't put off and carried on working hard to look for the chance of another goal. And between great play from the likes of Buonanotte, Toni and Van Nistelrooy, the ball was put in the back of Cristian's net a further three times. The 1-2 advantage that U.D Honorada had made them lose focus, meaning Malaga's third and fourth goals were possible, even though the third was an own goal, a good move by Cala, a midfielder who played in Maiquez.
The fourth and final one came after a good cross from Toulalan to Van Nistlerooy, who made the final score 1-4.
Victory came through for Malaga, leaving a great taste in the mouth on the team's first preseason outing here at Hotel Golf Campamor.
Statements of Jesús Gámez.
