Sunday January 22, 2012 Day 1 Finished Estadio La Rosaleda

Málaga CF 1 - 4 FC Barcelona

  • Rondón 85’
  • Messi 33’, 51’, 81’
  • Sánchez 48’

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Messi hat-trick conquers Malaga

    Messi hat-trick conquers Malaga

    Lionel Messi scored his fifth hat-trick of the season as Barcelona cruised past Malaga with a 4-1 victory at La Rosaleda. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Málaga CF
    • FC Barcelona
    • 90+3' And there's the final whistle. The second half blew the first 45 clean out of the water. Much better from both sides but the result was all about Barcelona. Another Messi hat-trick and another win in their bid to catch up to Real Madrid. Thanks for joining me today! Drop me a line on Twitter for post-match discussion @liamhappe
    • 90+2' Malaga break and Rondon drives in a centre from the right. FERNANDEZ! Heads wide!
    • 90+1' Two minutes added on at the end. Messi comes in again from the right, goes for the placed finish at the far post but Caballero comes out well and blocks (and holds) the shot with his knees.
    • 90' Good early ball from the right by Barca and Messi's there with the header! Denied a fourth by Caballero! The keeper scrambles on all fours to get to the loose ball before the hat-trick hero can.
    • 89' dos Santos fouls Nacho inside the Malaga half.
    • 88' Where has this Malaga come from? More importantly, where was it earlier?
    • 87' Fernandez now has space on the left. Lovely cross and it's going to find Rondon! Header is inches wide of the near post!
    • 86' Good finish from the tight angle on the right, off the far post and in. Deserved? Probably not. But good to see them attacking with more vigour than the entire 85 minutes before it, Isco aside.
    • 85' RONDON GETS TO THE REBOUND! Malaga have a goal back!
    • 84' Recio! Good distance drive but Valdes spills it!
    • 83' 22 goals this season for the best in the world.
    • 81' The Barcelona goal, sorry! Either way the attack ends abruptly and here come Barca again. Messi. Still Messi. STILL MESSI! WHAT A FINISH! Across the keeper after a 30 yard run! That's the hat-trick!
    • 80' Isco is brought down 30 yards from the Malaga goal by Mascherano.
    • 79' Final sub for Malaga, and for the game outright. Carzola comes off, on comes Recio.
    • 78' Thiago slides in dangerously and catches Nacho in the centre circle. I have to say, with the recent clampdown on those sort of challenges, that would have been a red in England. 50/50 or not.
    • 77' Cuenca fouled by Nacho, free-kick again results in more stready Barca possession.
    • 75' Thiago heads straight at Caballero from Cuenca's centre.
    • 74' It will be Messi... and the strike cannons off the underside of the crossbar! It comes down onto the back of an unsuspecting Caballero's shoulder but bounces the other side of the post. Just a corner for Barcelona.
    • 73' First, Barcelona make their final change with Iniesta making way for Pedro.
    • 72' Messi embarks on another mazy run down the middle, before being shoulder-blocked by Demichelis just before he can move into the 'D'. Dangerous free-kick coming up. Will Messi find the hat-trick?
    • 71' Malaga have failed to win any of their last 11 league meetings with Barca (one draw), conceding 3.1 goals per game.
    • 70' The visitors clear the corner and here they come on the counter. Alves has a cross headed from danger but Barca keep the ball.
    • 69' Carzola now wins his side a corner at the expense of Busquets.
    • 68' dos Santos' first act is to foul Carzola out on Malaga's left flank.
    • 67' And on comes Jonathan dos Santos for the injured Adriano.
    • 66' Looks like Adriano landed awkwardly on his right ankle going up for an aerial challenge with Isco. Barca are already prepping a change, so it's either serious or they're taking absolutely no chances.
    • 65' Messi picks out Cuenca on the right, but his floated early cross finds nobody.
    • 64' Scorer of the second goal, Sanchez, is taken off in Barca's first switch of the game. On in his place is Isaac Cuenca.
    • 63' Yellow for Camacho as he comes in late on Busquets, who reacts as if he's been shot. Again.
    • 62' Here's that second change: Rondon replaces Maresca.
    • 61' Adriano moves down the left, but handballs under pressure from his marker and Malaga take the defensive free-kick.
    • 60' We get one, for the time being, though two players were stripped and ready: it's van Nistelrooy who comes off after a disappointing hour and he's replaced by Seba Fernandez.
    • 59' Looks like a double change coming from Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini. Perhaps he should have considered that at half-time.
    • 58' Alves moves the ball into the Malaga half out on the right, and soonafter is checked by Mathijsen. Free-kick which Barca work backwards. No rush at all. And with a three goal advantage, why would you rush?
    • 56' A brief spell of Malaga pressure ends, and Barca begin to slow proceedings down once more.
    • 55' Stop-start at the moment as Alves fouls Eliseu near the halfway line.
    • 53' Barca clear and break, but that ends when Sanchez handballs.
    • 52' Abidal concedes a corner to Malaga shortly after we restart.
    • 51' MESSI! Great dribble, beautiful low slot beyond Caballero! Malaga have been taken apart in six second half minutes!
    • 50' Iniesta wins a free-kick from Camacho inside his own half.
    • 49' The champions have started the second half much more aggressively than arguably the entire first period. That makes for a successful team talk from Pepe at the break, then.
    • 48' Iniesta inside to Thiago, low drive from 15 yards is parried by Caballero! Adriano picks up the loose ball to the left-hand side and cuts back to Thiago and again Caballero saves! Now Sanchez on the rebound! Barca get their second!
    • 47' Good low driven cross from Adriano on the left who was picked out in acres of space, but it's inches ahead of Iniesta at the near post.
    • 46' And here we go with the second half.
    • 45+2' And that's time on a rather dull first half. Malaga have defended well but Barcelona will be happy to play keep ball. The hosts need to sharpen their attacking approach and fast.
    • 45+1' Now the Dutchman may have a chance to make an impact. Raking ball upfield and he's through if he can hold off the catch-up run of Macherano. But his headed first touch takes him wider than he'd like to be and he ends up in a heap on the floor, marshalled out of contention by the Argentine.
    • 45' Thiago is offside for Barcelona - but 20 seconds later, so is Van Nistelrooy as the hosts rush forward from the free-kick.
    • 44' Not much more than further possession back up towards the middle of the pitch comes from it, however,
    • 43' Nacho intercepts said play out on the right for a Barca attacking throw.
    • 42' The away side have done a good job of slowing the game down even moreso since breaking the deadlock. Not a tremendous amount to report but again the ball retention is world class, as most come to expect these days.
    • 40' That goal was actually only Messi's second on the road this season, believe it or not.
    • 39' Sanchez's through pass out to the right for Alves is overhit, and the right-back has to watch it roll out for a goal kick.
    • 37' Taken short but the eventual delivery sails over the waiting crowd in the area. Camacho tries to get it back in from the right, but Abidal closes it down.
    • 36' Pique is forced to concede a Malaga corner as they comb down the left.
    • 35' Messi short to Iniesta, but the midfielder cannot control the ball and it goes straight back to Caballero.
    • 33' Barca attack immediately from the goal kick. Adriano crosses from the left. Messi with the header! Barca lead!!
    • 31' Good cross from Eliseu, finds Van Nistelrooy at the far post! Complete mis-hit from the striker from point blank range!
    • 32' Foul by Iniesta on Isco inside the Malaga half. Again, the visitors have the ball back before long.
    • 30' Abidal's run into the box from the left is picked out and he's through, but Caballero comes out well enough to force him to turn back at the angle he's at. He goes short behind him to Messi whose driven cross is hashed away from goal.
    • 28' Thiago gives it a go from 25 yards, just right of centre, but it's safely seen over the crossbar by Caballero (whose first name Wilfredo is the inspiration for the name on his jersey - 'Willy')
    • 27' Again Abidal on Carzola, but Barca nonetheless continue to dominate possession.
    • 25' Abidal trips Carzola inside the centre circle for a Malaga free-kick.
    • 24' Another Messi run reaps rewards this time, but the short pass to Adriano in the Malaga danger zone can only be tapped into the arms of Caballero by the left winger.
    • 23' Iniesta fires a loose ball over the bar from outside the penalty area.
    • 22' A quick Malaga snap forward ends as abruptly as it began when Van Nistelerooy's run is flagged as offside.
    • 21' Thiago almost gets through on Adriano's forward pass, but Caballero times his run out perfectly to get there first.
    • 20' Another good spell of Barca possession has Malaga back with all hands on deck, and they get the better of the scenario when Iniesta's attempt to dink an assist over the back line misses the run of Sanchez.
    • 19' Thiago fouls Maresca in the middle of the park.
    • 18' Alves rises highest to head the cross towards goal, but it's wide. He couldn't connect with that how he wanted.
    • 17' Gamez catches Adriano on the left wing at the opposite end and Barcelona have a corner-like free-kick coming up.
    • 16' Malaga's first corner comes in and Valdes blocks another shot! And again! Great double save from the keeper straight after the parry to concede the corner! Was Isco again initially, and Demichelis on the follow up.
    • 15' Isco shoots! Tipped over the bar by Valdes! Cracking speculative effort!
    • 14' Messi ends up on the floor attempting a trademark dribble through a horde of defenders. No foul, though, simply outnumbered and overwhelmed.
    • 12' Quiet start to this one. Plenty of talent in both sides capable of sparking it into life, however.
    • 11' Shove by Iniesta on Demichelis wins Malaga a free-kick inside their own half.
    • 10' Nothing comes of the corner but Barcelona remain in possession. I think it was actually Demichelis sliding in with the block looking at replays.
    • 9' Messi manouvres into the 'D' but his shot is closed down by Camacho at the expense of the game's first corner.
    • 7' Thiago's first-time cross from the right is met by the header of Sanchez, but it's goes straight to Caballero.
    • 6' Here come Barca, but Adriano's cut-back from their own respective left wing just misses intended target Iniesta.
    • 5' Carzola gets to the byline over on the left wing, but Macherano recovers the ball before a cross can come in.
    • 3' Malaga are seeing a fair bit of the ball early on, considering they're playing Barcelona. It's the right attitude to have given such a test in the midst of their longest run of games this season without a win (five)
    • 2' Early foul by Busquets on Eliseu just inside his own half.
    • 1' Barcelona kick off the first half.
    • 16:55 TEAMS - Malaga: Caballero; Gamez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Camacho, Maresca; Isco, Cazorla, Eliseu; Van Nistelrooy. Subs: Kameni, Sanchez, Recio, Fernandez, Weligton, Duda, Rondon. /// Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Abidal, Adriano; Busquets, Mascherano, Thiago; Iniesta, Messi, Alexis. Subs: Pinto, Puyol, Cuenca, Jonathan, Xavi, Cesc, Pedro.
    • 16:50 Five points adrift of Real Madrid at the top, Barcelona can't afford to drop too many more points in the title race if they're to retain their crown. Malaga, meanwhile, will be well aware of the affect such a scalp could have in their battle to climb a tight and slippery mid-table. Full table
    • 16:45 Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Liga clash between Malaga and Barcelona from La Rosaleda!

  • Summary

    • 90+2' Malaga break and Rondon drives in a centre from the right. FERNANDEZ! Heads wide!
    • 90+1' Two minutes added on at the end. Messi comes in again from the right, goes for the placed finish at the far post but Caballero comes out well and blocks (and holds) the shot with his knees.
    • 90' Good early ball from the right by Barca and Messi's there with the header! Denied a fourth by Caballero! The keeper scrambles on all fours to get to the loose ball before the hat-trick hero can.
    • 87' Fernandez now has space on the left. Lovely cross and it's going to find Rondon! Header is inches wide of the near post!
    • 85' RONDON GETS TO THE REBOUND! Malaga have a goal back!
    • 84' Recio! Good distance drive but Valdes spills it!
    • 81' The Barcelona goal, sorry! Either way the attack ends abruptly and here come Barca again. Messi. Still Messi. STILL MESSI! WHAT A FINISH! Across the keeper after a 30 yard run! That's the hat-trick!
    • 74' It will be Messi... and the strike cannons off the underside of the crossbar! It comes down onto the back of an unsuspecting Caballero's shoulder but bounces the other side of the post. Just a corner for Barcelona.
    • 51' MESSI! Great dribble, beautiful low slot beyond Caballero! Malaga have been taken apart in six second half minutes!
    • 48' Iniesta inside to Thiago, low drive from 15 yards is parried by Caballero! Adriano picks up the loose ball to the left-hand side and cuts back to Thiago and again Caballero saves! Now Sanchez on the rebound! Barca get their second!
    • 47' Good low driven cross from Adriano on the left who was picked out in acres of space, but it's inches ahead of Iniesta at the near post.
    • 45+1' Now the Dutchman may have a chance to make an impact. Raking ball upfield and he's through if he can hold off the catch-up run of Macherano. But his headed first touch takes him wider than he'd like to be and he ends up in a heap on the floor, marshalled out of contention by the Argentine.
    • 33' Barca attack immediately from the goal kick. Adriano crosses from the left. Messi with the header! Barca lead!!
    • 31' Good cross from Eliseu, finds Van Nistelrooy at the far post! Complete mis-hit from the striker from point blank range!
    • 30' Abidal's run into the box from the left is picked out and he's through, but Caballero comes out well enough to force him to turn back at the angle he's at. He goes short behind him to Messi whose driven cross is hashed away from goal.
    • 16' Malaga's first corner comes in and Valdes blocks another shot! And again! Great double save from the keeper straight after the parry to concede the corner! Was Isco again initially, and Demichelis on the follow up.
    • 15' Isco shoots! Tipped over the bar by Valdes! Cracking speculative effort!
    • 16:55 TEAMS - Malaga: Caballero; Gamez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Camacho, Maresca; Isco, Cazorla, Eliseu; Van Nistelrooy. Subs: Kameni, Sanchez, Recio, Fernandez, Weligton, Duda, Rondon. /// Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Abidal, Adriano; Busquets, Mascherano, Thiago; Iniesta, Messi, Alexis. Subs: Pinto, Puyol, Cuenca, Jonathan, Xavi, Cesc, Pedro.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Málaga CF

    Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.4 -
      Defenders
      3.4 -
      4.8 -
      4.2 -
      3.8 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 3.4 -
      Substitution Out60′ 3.7 -
      4.5 -
      Substitution Out79′ 5.7 -
      3.6 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out60′ 4.6 -
      Subs
      Substitution In60′ Goal 6.7 -
      Substitution In60′ 3.7 -
      Substitution In79′ 3.7 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.4 -
      Defenders
      7.5 -
      7.5 -
      7.3 -
      7.8 -
      Midfielders
      7.4 -
      Substitution Out73′ 8.4 -
      7.4 -
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out64′ 8.1 -
      Substitution Out67′ 6.9 -
      Goals ×3 8.6 -
      Subs
      Substitution In73′ 7.4 -
      Substitution In67′ 6.8 -
      Substitution In64′ 7.4 -

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account