Malaga and Sevilla kicked off the La Liga season with a goalless draw.
Kevin Gameiro had two chances to score in the first half but failed to hit the target on a difficult night for the Frenchman.
Stephen N'Zonzi then saw red on his Sevilla debut, and Malaga ramped up the heat in the closing stages.
Nordin Amrabat and Charles both had chances to score at the death, but could not make the breakthrough.
Relive Sports Mole's live commentary below.
Good evening! It's the night we've all been waiting for - the start of the 2015-16 La Liga season.
It looks to be an absolute cracker between Sevilla and Malaga tonight. Sevilla are coming into the season buoyed by their comeback against Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup - they came back from 4-1 down to level it at 4-4 in that one.
For Malaga, a ninth-place finish last time around leaves them in good stead to mount a challenge for Europe this season. They're underdogs tonight, but it won't be a surprise if they get something out of this one.
Let's have a look at the teams then...
SEVILLA XI: Beto; Coke, Rami, Krychowiak, Tremoulinas; Iborra, N´Zonzi, Reyes, Banega; Vitolo, Gameiro
MALAGA XI: Kameni; Rosales, Angeleri, Amrabat, Pawlowski; Albentosa, Tissone, Darder, Duda; Charle, Cop
SEVILLA SUBS: Ferreira, Immobile, Kolodziejczak, Konoplyanka, Krohn-Dehli, Rico, Suarez
MALAGA SUBS: Anor, Carlos, Duda, Filipenko, Ochoa, Tighadouini, Torres
Let's take a look at Sevilla first then, and interestingly only one of their new signings start tonight, with Ciro Immobile, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Yevhen Konoplyanka all on the bench. Stephen N'Zonzi gets the nod though.
They make one change from their Super Cup starting lineup, with Krohn-Dehli making way for N'Zonzi. Other than that it's wash, rinse and repeat for Sevilla.
Malaga saw five players exit the club during the summer. Tuje Cop and Nordin Amrabat will make their competitive debuts tonight, while new signing Adnane Tighadouini is on the bench.
Just five minutes until the start of the La Liga season! That means there's just enough time to read our preview of the match.
It's also time for my prediction. The first match of a league season is always a difficult one to make, but I'm tipping Malaga to get something from this match. A few goals would be nice too - 2-2.
We're off! The 2015-16 La Liga season has started!
Sevilla have seen most of the possession so far, but haven't yet made a breakthrough.
There has been few cracking challenges from Malaga to start this match, but a Reyes freekick is headed away by a Malaga defender.
Malaga break and Charles plays the ball to Amrabat on the right wing. His cross was tipped away by Beto. Danger averted.
SAVE! Cop hits a piledriver from 25 yards but Beto gets down to the ground quickly to stop the shot. Malaga are looking dangerous now.
From the Sevilla goal kick, the ball finds it's way to Gameiro, who forces Kameni into a save before striking wide of the post.
CHANCE! Krychowiak rises highest to meet a free kick from the right, but his headed effort goes over the bar. He should have tested Kameni there.
A Reyes cross finds Gameiro at the near post, but his volley goes wide.
CHANCE! Chance after chance for Sevilla just now. This time, Gameiro puts the ball over the bar from 15 yards. Angeleri was right on him, and just did enough to put him off.
Malaga go up the other end and Horta combines well with Rosales. His shot goes harmlessly wide of the right post though.
Another wasted chance for Sevilla. A free kick into the box eventually falls to Vitolo, but he skews the shot well over the bar. He's ready for the Rugby World Cup with that shot.
Tissone wins Malaga a corner, going past two players before Krychowiak finally clears behind. The corner goes over everyone though and out of danger.
With 15 minutes left in the half, it's been Sevilla who has had the better of it so far. Malaga will be fairly happy though - they've shown some bright attacking flair at times too.
Speaking of Malaga's attacking flair, Amrabat receives the ball on the left wing before curling the ball narrowly wide from the corner of the area. Good effort.
PENALTY APPEAL! A cross from Charles looks like it's going to find Cop, but Coke makes the challenge. Both players end up on the floor, and Cop is furious that a penalty wasn't given. For me, he could definitely have a point there.
Malaga are enjoying a spell of dominance here. Cop certainly looks like he could be a good signing. He's caused a few problems down the right wing tonight.
YELLOW CARD! Sergi Darder is given the first yellow card of the La Liga season after pulling down Gameiro.
Another shout for a penalty there, but this time Charles doesn't have any argument. A very theatrical fall and his appeals are waved away by the referee.
YELLOW CARDS! Charles and Rami are booked after an off the ball altercation. Meanwhile, Malaga have a free kick in a dangerous position...
The free kick deflects off the wall and behind, and the corner kick is cleared with ease.
HALF TIME: Malaga 0-0 Sevilla
No stoppage time at the end of the first half as the teams go in goalless.
It has been a good game though. Both teams have had their chances to break the deadlock.
Sevilla have perhaps had the better of it. Gameiro tested Kameni, but then should have done better with a near-post volley. N'Zonzi had their best chance of the half but he headed over the bar.
Should Malaga have had a penalty? I think so, and Cop certainly thinks so. But the referee is the one that matters and he said no.
As I said earlier, both teams will be fairly pleased with their first-half performance. Malaga fans will be pleased that they don't seem to be missing their five summer departures.
Not too long until the second half kicks off. Will we see the first goal of the La Liga season?
Gameiro is one player who should have done much better in the first half. He could have notched a few goals but Kameni has proved his equal so far tonight.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
KICK OFF! We're underway for the second half.
YELLOW CARD! Silly N'Zonzi! Amrabat is about to take the throw and N'Zonzi just slaps the ball out his arms. Needless booking for him.
Vitolo's low cross towards Gameiro is dangerous, but it goes past the Frenchman and Kameni is able to gather.
Vitolo cuts in from the right and is felled by Tissone. A free kick is given - can Sevilla make something out of it this time?
No. The free kick is played short to Banega, but his shot is tame and easily gathered by Kameni.
Sevilla are enjoying a spell of possession here. Malaga just can't get on the ball at all. They aren't exactly threatening though and are happy to knock it around the midfield for now.
Reyes plays a free kick into the box but Kameni punches comes out to punch the ball away. Dominant goalkeeping.
Banega fires one in from 20 yards. It goes just wide of the post but takes a deflection on its way. The corner though, straight into Kameni's arms.
Up at the other end, Amrabat puts a cross in but noone is there and Beto gathers with ease.
SEVILLA SUBSTITUTION: Reyes comes off to be replaced by Konoplyanka. Remember the name? Liverpool tried to sign him in January.
MALAGA SUBSTITUTION: Ex-Sevilla player Duda comes on and Cop makes way.
CHANCE! Vitolo and Coke combine well down the right wing, and Vitolo's shot stings the hands of Kameni. Good play between the pair.
RED CARD! Nightmare debut for N'Zonzi. The first yellow was plain stupid. This challenge wasn't too savvy either. The Sevilla attack breaks down and N'Zonzi takes out Amrabat to stop the counter.
That certainly changes the complexion of things. Sevilla now have 10 men behind the ball and seem happy to play for the draw now.
SEVILLA SUBSTITUTION: Ferreira comes on for Banega as Sevilla look to shore up the midfield.
Amrabat tests Beto with a long-range effort but the Sevilla keeper deflects it away from danger.
Malaga really are going up a gear now. This time, Darder shoots from the left but it goes wide of the far post.
Duda's free kick on the left by-line is played to the edge of the area but Rosales volleys wide. That could have been exceptional.
YELLOW CARD! Goalkeeper Beto receives a caution for time-wasting at a free kick.
MALAGA SUBSTITUTION: Juan Carlos comes on for Horta to refresh the Malaga attack.
SEVILLA SUBSTITUTION: Immobile comes on for his La Liga debut, replacing Gameiro. It wasn't Gameiro's finest night. He should have hit the back of the net twice.
The game's slowed right down in the last few minutes. Sevilla are doing what they can to break the flow of the game. Malaga, meanwhile, aren't exactly busting a gut to get the winning goal either.
MALAGA SUBSTITUTION: Juanpi is Malaga's final sub of the night, coming on for Darder. Six minutes to go, can he be the difference?
Oh Amrabat! With attack outnumbering defence, his cross flies over everyone and goes harmlessly out of play. He hangs his head in shame, and so he should.
DISALLOWED! Charles puts it in the net from six yards but he's offside. Juan Carlos was in a good position anyway and had he shot it probably would have been a goal.
CHANCE! Amrabat should have got the winner there too, but he fluffs his lines and the keeper gathers.
Malaga now ramping it up once again. Juan Carlos's shot is blocked for a corner. The corner is, once again, completely harmless.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
CHANCE! Mariano plays a dreadful backpass and Charles nicks it. He tries to backheel flick it over the goalkeeper and nearly succeeds but the ball is cleared behind. Showboating at this time of the match, really?
FULL TIME: Malaga 0-0 Sevilla
Well, who would have thought it? Goalless.
It really shouldn't have been though. Both teams had their chances. Malaga certainly should have scored at the death, but, alas, we're yet to see the first La Liga goal of the 2015-16 season.
The history books will put this one down as a boring 0-0 draw, but it was a great game! Both teams will be fairly happy with the draw, but Amrabat will be rueing his missed chance in the last few minutes.
Thanks for joining me tonight for this one folks. Come back for more throughout the La Liga season.
Written by
Jonathan McIntosh
Jonathan McIntosh
