Malaga welcomed Getafe to La Rosaleda on Saturday looking to consolidate seventh spot in La Liga.
The home side led 1-0 at the interval courtesy of a close-range header from Juanmi.
Getafe responded early in the second period through Alvaro Vasquez, but Malaga regained the lead two minutes later following a stunning hit from Sergi Darder.
The hosts had a third after 68 minutes through Ricardo Horta, but Getafe cut the score to 3-2 with 15 minutes remaining when Vasquez completed his brace.
That proved the end of the scoring, however, as Malaga held on to claim all three points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from La Rosaleda as Malaga welcome Getafe. The last five matches between these two sides have brought just seven goals – let's hope that run does not continue here. Getafe, meanwhile, will enter the match without a manager after Quique Flores quit as head coach on Thursday after just two months in charge.
Malaga certainly should be full of confidence following a 1-0 win at Barcelona last weekend. That victory kept them in seventh spot in the table, but they are still six points from sixth-place Villarreal and 12 points from fourth-place Valencia. Malaga's home form this season, meanwhile, has been pretty strong – winning six of their 12 matches and collecting 21 points in the process.
Getafe, meanwhile, currently sit 14th in the table. The capital outfit are just four points clear of the relegation zone, however, and therefore far from safe at this stage. Their away form this season has also been fairly poor – winning just twice, while they are without a clean sheet in 13 away league matches. That said, they recorded a morale-boosting 2-1 win at home to Espanyol last time out.
TEAMS
MALAGA: Kameni; Rosales, Angeleri, Weligton, Boka; Darder, Camacho; Samu, Horta, Castillejo; Juanmi
GETAFE: Jona; Alexis, Velazquez, Naldo, Escudero; Rodriguez, Sarabia; Leon, Castro, Hinestroza; Alvaro
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Malaga build on last week's win at Barcelona? We shall soon see. The hosts get the first 45 minutes underway here.
It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this evening. Malaga, for all their troubles, are having a strong season. Getafe, meanwhile, have been playing some good football in recent weeks. The home side have been on top thus far, but nothing in terms of clear chances.
Samuel wants a free kick just outside the Getafe box after taking a tumble, but the referee is not interested. Horta picks up the pieces moments later, but his deep cross is collected by Lopez.
Not too much from Getafe in the opening six minutes, with Malaga very much the team on the front foot. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital here. The referee is allowing the match to flow despite some strong challenges, which is a very good sign.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for the home side to open the scoring! Again it is a quick break as Samuel collects a through ball from Darder, but Lopez is out to make a very smart save. Should score.
GOAL! Malaga 1-0 Getafe (Juanmi)
Lift-off Malaga! The home side open the scoring with 10 minutes on the clock as Juanmi heads a super Rosales cross past Lopez. Malaga deserve it there is no question about that. Getafe have not started.
Juanmi, who is still just 21, is starting to make a name for himself in La Liga. He hit the winner at Barcelona last week and has already netted here. The response from Getafe has been decent, but the visitors are lacking ideas in the final third as Weligton is across to clear a pass from Castro.
Half-chance for Getafe as Escudero meets a deep free kick from Leon, but his effort was always dropping high of the crossbar. The opening 14 minutes of this contest have just flown past.
The referee has been busier than he might have wanted in the last couple of minutes following some late challenges, but there has not been a card thus far. It is a very high tempo match in Malaga.
BOOKING! Darder (Malaga) goes into the book for a high boot on Alexis.
The resulting free kick is delivered by Leon, but Velazquez's near-post header is cleared for a corner. It has been a strong response from Getafe, but they really need to score during this strong spell.
Not too much from Malaga in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes, but they are still a serious threat on the counter, with Juanmi, Castillejo and Samuel all offering themselves in wide areas.
Alexis stays forward for Getafe before meeting a deep cross from Leon, but the defender's header was always moving wide of the post. No real chances to speak of since Juanmi opened the scoring here.
The home supporters are in fine voice at the moment and why not? Their team are playing some excellent football at the moment, while their confidence is obviously high following their 1-0 win at Barcelona last weekend. Juanmi's strike still separates the two teams with 24 minutes played.
BOOKING! As touched upon, it has been fairly bitty in terms of challenges, and Alexis (Getafe) is the latest name to go into the book for a late lunge on Darder.
Malaga have a free kick in a dangerous position as Castro chops Castillejo to the ground...
... CLOSE! Darder delivers towards the far post, but Juan Rodriguez just manages to turn behind his own crossbar for a corner. Good pressure from Malaga in the last couple of minutes here.
PENALTY SHOUT! Malaga have a strong penalty shout as Juanmi's header appears to strike the arm of Hinestroza inside the box, but the referee is not interested. He is a lucky, lucky boy there!
Malaga's pace on the counter is an obvious concern to Getafe, with the away side's goalkeeper Lopez taking up a high starting position. The Spaniard does well to stop Horta before releasing Escudero, but Malaga regain the ball just outside their own box. Little over 10 minutes of the first half to play.
I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this evening as both sides continue to commit numbers in the final third. Malaga are fairly comfortable in keeping possession, but Getafe have pace on the counter attack. You just get the feeling that the next goal - if there is one - could be vital.
SAVE! Malaga come close to scoring a second as Castillejo collects a loose ball outside the box before curling one towards the top corner, but Lopez makes a stunning save. So close to number two!
CHANCE! Yet another wonderful chance for the home side as a long pass from Boka falls to Angeleri inside the Getafe box. The defender thrashes a cross towards the far post, but Juanmi just cannot make contact. Will Malaga be made to regret some of these missed chances?
CHANCE! Desperate defending from the home side as Kameni presents an excellent chance to Getafe, but Boka manages to block a goal-bound strike from Leon. Terrible mix-up inside the box!
Hardly time to take a breath at the moment as the match continues to flow from end-to-end. Getafe have been on the back foot for long periods, but they are now really threatening to level.
Malaga need a second goal here in order to be comfortable, there is no doubt about that. Getafe are playing some nice stuff in the final third, with Leon and Sarabia both seeing plenty of the ball.
CHANCE! Oh my word what a chance for Getafe! Leon does excellently in a wide area as he turns Boka before presenting Alvaro with a heading opportunity, but his effort is straight at Kameni.
Good grief how on earth is this still 1-0? It could be at least 2-2.
HALF-TIME: Malaga 1-0 Getafe
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Malaga leading 1-0 courtesy of a close-range header from Juanmi. Both teams have had chances to add to the scoring, but some good goalkeeping, coupled with poor finishing, has kept the score down. What will the second half bring?
STATS! Malaga have just shaded the possession with 55%, while they have had 10 attempts - three of which have been on target. Getafe, meanwhile, have hit the target with just one of their three attempts thus far. There have also been two yellow cards following some feisty challenges at La Rosaleda.
BENCH WATCH! Malaga boss Javi Gracia will be pretty pleased with what he saw in that first period, but the Spaniard certainly has options for change, with the likes of Luis Alberto, Amrabat, Duda and Tissone all in reserve. Getafe, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Yoda and Valera.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Malaga get that all-important second goal? We shall soon see. Getafe get the second 45 minutes underway.
No changes from either side at the interval, which is not all that surprising at this stage. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains 1-0 for the next 20 minutes or so.
Good start to the second period from Getafe, with the capital side forcing two corners, but Kameni punches the first clear, before Darder clears at the near post. All-action start to the half here.
It is ALL Getafe in the early moments of the second period. Malaga cannot get out!
You just get the feeling that Getafe need to score during this positive spell. Malaga will surely have chances as the match progresses and therefore an equaliser at this point could prove crucial.
SAVE! Kameni has just made an absolutely sensational save to deny Vasquez from close range, but the Getafe striker was in an offside position. Nevertheless, Kameni did not know that. Stunning.
Genuinely, Malaga cannot get the ball. Getafe are pressing so high and really forcing the issue. However, Malaga retain their lead and have a goal kick as Boka forces Alexis off the ball.
Malaga are still in the dressing room - well it seems that way. They continue to concede possession in the middle of the park, with Getafe first to every loose ball. The only statistic that matters, however, sees the home side still lead 1-0. Still more than 35 minutes of football to play at La Rosaleda.
GOAL! Malaga 1-1 Getafe (Vasquez)
Getafe level and it had been coming. Leon is down the right for the visitors and delivers a super cross into Vasquez, who cannot miss from close range. Terrible defending from Weligton there.
This is now a real test for Malaga, who have been nothing short of terrible since the break.
GOAL! Malaga 2-1 Getafe (Darder)
Oh my good grief! That is some strike! Malaga regain the lead in stunning fashion as Darder hammers one into the top corner from outside the box. Oh my word it is something special!
Malaga needed a response and my word did they get one! Sensational from Darder there.
This has been a cracking match at La Rosaleda - really great entertainment. Getafe are far from finished as they continue to break in the final third, but Malaga seem to have finally woken up in this half.
OFF-THE-LINE! Getafe survive as Velazquez heads one off-the-line from Juanmi after Lopez had been caught in a wide position. End-to-end football with 61 minutes on the clock here.
SUB! Malaga make their first change of the match as Amrabat replaces Juanmi.
Amrabat's first involvement is a very positive run into the Getafe half, but Castro is across to challenge the Turkish international at the vital moment. The home side are on top with 64 minutes played.
Amrabat is again involved on the counter for the home side, but the attacker's cross, which was heading for Horta, is cut out by Naldo. Getafe are just struggling with the pace at the moment.
Getafe break from a Malaga corner and Sarabia has a strike from inside the box, but Kameni is on hand to make the save. The end-to-end nature of this match has been seriously incredible here.
GOAL! Malaga 3-1 Getafe (Horta)
Malaga have their third of the match as Horta produces an excellent bicycle kick following super wide work from Castillejo. That should be game over as Malaga gain a two-goal advantage here.
Juanmi has been handed an icepack on the Malaga bench - some sort of injury for the Spaniard tonight, but the details will not be revealed until tomorrow. Little over 20 minutes to play here.
Amrabat has made a big difference for the home side, with the Turkish international holding the ball up in the final third and causing problems to the Getafe defence. Are there to be more goals tonight?
Malaga are so bright, so inventive and so exciting each time they break into the final third. Some of their defending needs a lot of work, but the supporters are loving what they are seeing here.
SUBS! Getafe make their first change as Leon is replaced by Yoda. Malaga, meanwhile, make their second change as Darder, who hit that stunner, is replaced by Recio.
SAVE! Yoda almost makes the perfect introduction as the attacker finds space outside the box before curling one towards the bottom corner, but Kameni is across to make the save.
GOAL! Malaga 3-2 Granada (Vasquez)
Getafe cut the score to 3-2 as Vasquez fires home at the far post following a corner from the left.
Well, we have some final 10/15 minutes on our hands here.
You just get the feeling that there will be at least two good chances in the final 10 minutes of this match. Getafe probably deserve something for their performance in the second period, but Malaga are always a threat on the counter. It has been a fascinating evening of football in Malaga here.
SUB! Malaga make their third and final change as Duda replaces Samuel.
SUB! Getafe respond with a change as Ivi Lopez replaces Hinestroza.
Terrible decision from Kameni to come and attempt to clear a long throw, but Malaga manage to clear the danger as Boka out-muscles Vasquez. Almost a game-changing moment from the stopper.
Little under five minutes of football remaining and Malaga still lead 3-2. It has been a cracking match and I have a feeling that we could be in for a late sting in the tail at La Rosaleda.
Malaga are at the right end of the field as they gain two corners in quick succession.
BOOKING! Rosales (Malaga) is booked for stopping a quick counter. Professional foul.
It is so very tense inside the stadium at the moment. The home supporters are feeling the pressure.
Possession football from Malaga as we approach the final couple of minutes here. Duda was a very smart change from Gracia, with the experienced midfielder settling everyone down for Malaga.
Getafe appear to have a golden chance at the far post as Castro searches out Yoda with a super cross, but the forward was in an offside position and Malaga can breath once again.
BOOKING! Castillejo (Malaga) is booked for fouling Escudero.
We are into the final 60 seconds here.
Malaga have the chance to break, but Duda does not have the legs to collect a pass from Angeleri. Time is almost up, however, and the home side have the ball in the Granada half.
FULL-TIME: Malaga 3-2 Getafe
And breathe! It is all over! The referee brings this incredible match to a close, with Malaga holding on to claim all three points with a 3-2 win. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
