Getafe travelled to an out-of-form Malaga on Saturday evening knowing that three points would move them into the top six.
Both sides had opportunities during an end-to-end first period, but neither could make the breakthrough after 45 minutes of football.
Malaga found a goal in the latter stages, however, as Roque Santa Cruz secured all the points with a powerful header.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Our final live La Liga commentary of the evening comes from the Estadio La Rosaleda as Malaga welcome Getafe. A return of just 14 points from 15 games has left the home side in 15th position in the table. However, it has been a successful start for Getafe, with the capital outfit occupying seventh position on 23 points.
Malaga enter the match off the back of a 3-3 draw against Osasuna in the Copa del Rey last weekend. They were 3-0 ahead in the second half, but collapsed in the latter stages. Getafe were also in cup action last weekend as they drew 1-1 away to Girona. Malaga have not won in the league since beating Real Betis on November 3, but Getafe beat Levante 1-0 in their last league contest.
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, Malaga have won three of the last five, with Getafe winning once and the other ending in a draw. As mentioned, the corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-1 Malaga win, but Getafe were 1-0 winners on their own patch in December 2012.
TEAMS:
MALAGA: Caballero; Gamez, Sanchez, Weligton, Antunes; Portillo, Camacho, Tissone, Eliseu; Morales; Juanmi
GETAFE: Moya; Arroyo, Rafa, Alexis, Lago; Leon, Lacen, Mosquera, Castro; Sarabia, Ciprian
So there we have it. No Roque Santa Cruz for the home side, but Juanmi and Portillo both start. There is also a place in the XI for Ignacio Camacho. Getafe, meanwhile, continue with Ciprian Marica as their lone striker. Pablo Sarabia and Diego Castro also start. Right, the home side get the first period underway.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be decisive in this type of match. Malaga have won just one of their last nine, but three points this evening would ease some of the tension. An early free kick is delivered by Antunes into the Getafe box, but Rafa is on hand to clear the danger, before Eliseu fires high and wide of the crossbar.
Not a full house inside the stadium this evening, but there is a strong atmosphere. Malaga will need their supporters to stick with them this evening. Camacho has a problem as he clashes with Marica, but the Malaga midfielder does return to his feet following a period of challenges. Plenty of tackles flying in with four minutes on the clock in this famous stadium.
Good pressure from Malaga in the last couple of moments as Eliseu finds space down the left before delivering a cross towards Juanmi, but Arroyo is on hand to clear at the vital moment. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the opening six minutes with both teams wanting too long on the ball in the middle of the park.
The referee has been more involved than he would have liked inside the opening eight minutes with both sides flying into a number of late challenges. Malaga continue to enjoy the possession in the Getafe half, but Eliseu and Portillo have both failed to find Juanmi with through passes in the last minute or two. Still goalless with eight minutes on the clock in Malaga.
Half-chance for Malaga as Morales delivers a dangerous cross into the Getafe box, but Moya is on hand to clear at the vital moment under pressure from Juanmi. Getafe break down the other end with Marica, but the move breaks down with the Romanian attempts to slide one towards Sarabia. End-to-end football in the last couple of moments.
CHANCE! It's good work from Leon as the Getafe midfielder takes control of possession just outside the box before moving past two challenges, but Sanchez is across to clear for a corner. The resulting set piece is delivered by Leon, but Rafa fires his header over the crossbar. The Spanish defender should have at least tested the goalkeeper.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Gamez delivers a dangerous cross into the box, but Rafa is across to clear at the vital moment. The resulting corner is taken by Morales, but Alexis clears to the edge of the box, before Eliseu fires high and wide of the crossbar. That has been the story of the evening for the home side thus far.
End-to-end football in the last couple of moments with both sides prepared to commit numbers in the final third. Sarabia leads an attack for Getafe, but he cannot find Marica in the final third. Malaga are down the other end with Gamez moments later, but his cross is straight into the arms of Moya. Still goalless with 17 minutes on the clock in this La Liga contest.
CHANCE! Good pressure from Malaga as Morales finds some space inside the box before drilling a low cross towards Portillo, but Alexis is across to clear the danger. From the resulting corner, Sanchez finds himself unmarked, but his header is straight at Moya from close range. Chances at both ends.
The first booking of the match is handed to Arroyo, as the Getafe defender fells Eliseu outside the box. The resulting set piece is taken by Antunes, but his effort is wide of the post. Both sides have had opportunities inside the opening 22 minutes, but the score remains goalless. In this type of match, the first goal is crucial.
POST! Oh my good grief what a miss! Antunes delivers a sensational cross towards Juanmi and all the Spaniard has to do is tap home from close range. However, the Malaga forward rattles the post. That sums up Malaga's season thus far!
Schuster cannot quite believe that his side are not ahead. A goal for the home side would just settle everyone inside the stadium, but Getafe will have other ideas. The away side have a free kick down the other end as Tissone fells Mosquera, but the resulting set piece from Leon is pushed wide of the post by Caballero.
Morales continues to impress for Malaga as he finds space inside the Getafe box before delivering a low cross towards Juanmi, but Lago is on hand to clear at the vital moment. The home side continue to dominate the possession, but they are wary of the counter-attacking threat from the away side. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining.
Half-chance for Eliseu this time as the Malaga attacker curls one from the edge of the box, but Moya is on hand to make the save. The pressure continues from the home side as Antunes whips a cross towards Camacho, but his side-footed effort is straight behind for a goal kick. Still goalless after 31 minutes.
Plenty happening in the middle of the park at the moment as the challenges continue to arrive from both sides, but the referee has kept a lid on proceedings thus far. As far as goalless draws go, this has been an entertaining fixture. Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining. It is the type of match that is in need of a goal.
Half-chance on the counter for Getafe as Castro finds Mosquera, but his cross is straight into the arms of Caballero. That has been the story of the half for Getafe. Malaga break down the other end with Portillo, but Arroyo fells the Spaniard. The resulting free kick is taken by Morales, but Sanchez is offside.
Just a reminder that three points for Getafe this evening would move them into the top six and cap a fine start to the season. However, Malaga have looked the team more likely to open the scoring thus far. Stop-start period of the match in the last couple of moments as the challenges continue to arrive from both sides.
CHANCE! Leon tries to catch out Caballero with a quick free kick, but the Malaga stopper manages to make the save at his near post. Leon takes the resulting corner, but Sanchez is on hand to clear the danger. Still goalless with little over five minutes of the first period remaining.
Another half-chance for the home side as Gamez finds Morales on the edge of the box, but the midfielder can only fire his effort high and wide of the crossbar. Eliseu finds himself inside the Getafe box moments later, but the Portuguese had moved into an offside position at the vital moment.
CHANCE! Malaga come close to taking the lead in the latter stages of the half as Antunes drives to the edge of the box before attempting to curl one into the bottom corner, but his effort is just wide of the post.
HALF TIME: Malaga 0-0 Getafe
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to an end with the two sides level at 0-0. Both have had chances during an end-to-end half of football, but neither has been able to break the deadlock. Let's hope for goals in the second period.
STATISTICS: The home side have dominated the possession with 64%, while they have had 10 attempts to Getafe's four. The best opportunities have fallen the way of the hosts, but Getafe have also had their moments during an eventful half. Just the one yellow card, meanwhile, with Getafe defender Arroyo the name in the book.
BENCH WATCH: The home side have a number of attacking options on their bench in the shape of Santa Cruz, Darder and Samuel. Meanwhile, Getafe have the likes of Lafita, Gavilan and Adrian Colunga in reserve. It would not be a surprise to see changes as the second period unfolds.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if we indeed have one - could be crucial in this type of match. No changes for either side at the interval as Getafe get the second 45 minutes of this La Liga contest underway.
Getafe have won four of their five matches this season when they have been drawing at the interval. Will they continue that positive record this evening? Bright start to the half from Malaga as Tissone attempts to lift his effort over Moya from close range, but the Getafe goalkeeper does just enough.
Opportunity for Getafe to threaten from a free kick as Marica is felled by Sanchez outside the box. The resulting set piece is taken by Sarabia, but his delivery is straight into the arms of Caballero. Morales breaks down the other end before finding Eliseu, but the flag is raised as Juanmi collects inside the area.
Neither side is really in control of proceedings at the moment as both continue to force the issue in the final third. Without sounding like a broken record, it is the type of match where the first goal could be all-important. Gamez delivers another dangerous cross into the Getafe box, but Rafa is on hand to clear under pressure from Juanmi.
Half-chance for the away side as Alexis collects a loose ball on the edge of the box before attempting to find the bottom corner, but his effort just moves wide of the post. That has been the story of the second period thus far, with the chances coming from distance. Malaga continue to deliver balls into the box, but there are no takers. Santa Cruz maybe?! No sign of the striker at the moment as he remains on the bench.
Little over 30 minutes of football remaining in this La Liga contest and the score remains goalless. We are entering the stage in the match where both managers will be considering changes. Both have personnel on the bench that could influence proceedings. Possession football from Getafe in the last couple of moments.
The referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of moments as the challenges continue to arrive from both sides. Getafe are just starting to force the issue somewhat, but Caballero has not really been tested since the interval. Still no movement on either bench at this stage of the contest.
It is almost like a pre-season match at the moment with little energy in the middle of the park. In truth, a draw would not be the worst result for either side, but the onus is on Malaga on their own patch. Sarabia finds Castro in the Malaga box moments later, but the offside flag is raised once more.
Half-chance for the home side as Eliseu delivers a low cross towards Juanmi, but Alexis is across to make a fine challenge at the vital moment. You just get the feeling that one goal would be enough to claim all three points. However, neither side has done enough to deserve to be leading at this stage of proceedings.
End-to-end football in the last couple of moments as Tissone has an effort blocked for the home side, before Marica goes down inside the Malaga box down the other end. The referee is not interested, however, despite a solid challenge from Weligton. The tempo has just lifted in the last few moments with both sides sensing the chance to claim all the points this evening.
The game is incredibly stretched at the moment with both sides committing numbers in the final third. In the circumstances, the referee has done well to keep a lid on proceedings this evening. Changes are made moments later as Duda replaces Eliseu for Malaga and Gavilan replaces Sarabia for Getafe.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Malaga as Moya spills a shot from Duda, but Juanmi can only lift his effort over the crossbar from close range. Schuster cannot believe it. Juanmi has had two golden opportunities this evening, but taken neither.
You just get the feeling that there will be a late goal in this contest. In truth, neither side has really done enough to deserve to be leading, but Malaga have been the better team. It is a surprise that Santa Cruz has not been called upon with little over 15 minutes of football remaining. Three points for the home side would lift everyone around the club.
Santa Cruz is finally introduced for the home side, with the striker replacing Morales. That is a vote of confidence for Juanmi, who remains on the field. Getafe are also preparing a change with Colunga imminent. Still goalless with little over 15 minutes of football to play. Is there to be late drama in Malaga?
GOAL! Malaga 1-0 Getafe (Santa Cruz)
Wow! What an introduction! Santa Cruz makes his point from the bench as the powerful striker directs a header into the top corner following a fine cross from Duda. Relief around the stadium.
Getafe do indeed make the change with Colunga replacing Lacen. With the amount of crosses that Malaga were putting into the box, it was crying out for Santa Cruz. The striker was introduced and he has his goal. However, Getafe are not finished here as they launch a counter with Gavilan.
Half-chance for Getafe to level as Leon delivers a deep cross towards Alexis, but the defender cannot make proper contact under pressure from Weligton. You can sense the tension inside the stadium at the moment. It is important that the home side keep possession of the ball as we enter the final 10 minutes.
Malaga continue to put the pressure on Getafe with two corners in quick succession, but the first is cleared by Rafa, before Moya comes to collect under pressure from Santa Cruz. In truth, Getafe have not looked like scoring in the second half. That needs to change if they are to take something from this La Liga contest.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of moments with Malaga prepared to keep possession of the ball. It has not been pretty, but it would be a decisive three points if they can hold on in the final five minutes or so. Colunga embarks on a run for Getafe moments later, but the Spaniard had moved into an offside position.
Getafe make their third and final change as Lafita replaces Arroyo, which is not much of a surprise. It is all or nothing for the away side at this stage of proceedings. You just get the feeling that there will be one last big chance in the latter stages. Little over three minutes of normal time remaining.
Malaga make their third and final change as Darder replaces Juanmi, who might have scored twice this evening. Getafe force the issue moments later as Sarabia's deflected effort falls to Marica inside the box, but Weligton is across to make the challenge. Both players are booked moments later following a clash.
Santa Cruz has another half-chance moments later after collecting a loose ball inside the box, but his effort is deflected wide of the post. The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes and we are indeed into the second of those. Malaga have possession in the Getafe half.
FULL TIME: Malaga 1-0 Getafe
So there we have it. Santa Cruz's goal is the difference as Malaga claim all three points against Getafe. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us tomorrow for more La Liga football. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
