Getafe – Celta Vigo 3:1 (end) | Malaga – Bilbao 1:0 (end)
final
Malaga CF
1:0 (1:0)
Athletic Bilbao
Saturday 16.02.2013, 18:00 • LaLiga
     
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    In the second half Bilbao were the better side but failed to use their chances. Both teams had three really big opportunities in the last 45 minutes but both goalkeepers had a great day! In the end the early goal by Saviola was decisive for the 1-0 win by Málaga. While Málaga defended their 4th spot, Bilbao stay in the lower regions of the table and have to hope that the competitors fail this weekend.
     
    Game over.
     
    90+3
    Counter attack for Málaga. Isco with the last shot but it is blocked.
     
    90+2
    Joaquín lays on the ground after a harmless foul in the midfield, wants to get some seconds off the clock.
     
    90+1
    After a corner from the right side Fernando Llorente's header goes wide significantly.
     
    90
    Three minutes are added to the game.
     
    90
    In the following counter situation Joaquín is through alone and in the 1-on-1 with Raúl Fernández he misses the net!
     
    90
    Great free kick by Ibai Gómez towards the left top corner! Good save by Caballero!
     
    89
    Diego Lugano (Málaga) gets a yellow card for holding Ibai Gómez who would have been through alone in front of Caballero!
     
    87
    Ignacio Camacho (Málaga) sees a yellow card for a tactical foul in the midfield when he avoided a counter attack.
     
    85
    Another offside call against Bilbao - and it is wrong again...
     
    84
    Susaeta with a series of weak crosses from the right wing that are all blocked by the Málaga defense...
     
    82
    Málaga invest a lot more again after Joaquín came in. They are looking for the decisive goal.
     
    80
    Joaquín enters the pitch for Piazon. Last change by the hosts.
     
    79
    Another big chance for Bilbao but Caballero was in the right bottom corner against the shot by Ibai Gómez!!
     
    76
    Offside goal by Fernando Llorente!! He was a second too fast when he receid the through ball...
     
    74
    Free kick by Antunes from about 25 metres distance, just inches wide past the left bottom corner! Almost the decision in favour of Málaga.
     
    72
    Tactical foul by San José against Isco in the midfield but no card is shown by the referee.
     
    71
    Málaga defender Antunes with a cross from the left wing, blocked for an easy save by Raúl Fernández.
     
    70
    The home fans claim a handball by Iturraspe. He touched the ball with his arms but he was shot at from 20 centimetres distance only...
     
    68
    The following free kick was harmless.
     
    68
    Laporte with a foul against Piazon 25 metres in front of the Bilbao net. He is extremly lucky that he is still on the pitch as he was booked a few minutes ago and this was a foul worthy a second yellow card.
     
    66
    Dangerous cross by Susaeta towards the near post. The rebound comes back to him but his shot then went directly into the gloves of Caballero.
     
    65
    Athletic superstar Fernando Llorente enters the pitch for De Marcos.
     
    63
    Aurtenetxe with a header that goes wide.
     
    60
    Laporte (Bilbao) gets a yellow card for a foul from behind in the midfield against the new man Santa Cruz.
     
    58
    And Roque Santa Cruz enters the pitch for goal scorer Saviola.
     
    58
    Julio Baptista leaves the pitch and in for him is Jeremy Toulalan. A rather defensive change by Málaga.
     
    56
    On the other side Raúl Fernández jumps into the shot of Piazon in the 1-on-1!
     
    55
    Susaeta with a great solo run past two defenders. He gives a cross towards Aduriz who was stopped by Caballero from the six-yard box!
     
    54
    Nice combination by the guests over the left wing but during the last pass there is another offside call.
     
    52
    Again Bilbao with a lot of pressure. After a long cross from the right wing an Athletic striker shoots the ball against the hand of team mate Aduriz...
     
    50
    Dangerous situation on the other side. A cross from the left wing by Bilbao goes just wide but before there was an offside call anyway.
     
    49
    Julio Baptista appears alone at the right side of the guest area but a defender clears at cost of a corner before the Málaga midfielder could score!
     
    47
    Corner for Málaga after a shot from Isco from the left side of the six-yard box but they lose the ball...
     
    46
    Start of 2nd half.
     
    Málaga had the better start and were rewarded with the lead through Javier Saviola. After half an hour the guests from Bilbao suddenly took over the initiative and Málaga goalkeeper Wlly Caballero had to save his team the lead with three spectacular saves! The game stays completely open before the next 45 minutes.
     
    1st halftime finished.
     
    45+1
    Counter attack for Bilbao over the right wing but they lose the ball...
     
    45
    One minute is added to the first half.
     
    43
    Misunderstanding between De Marcos and Ibai Gómez and they lose the ball in the Málaga half.
     
    41
    Iraola (Bilbao) gets the first yellow card of the game for a tactical foul against Julio Baptista who would have been through 30 metres in front of the guest net.
     
    39
    The corner itself from the right side was cleared easily.
     
    38
    After a blocked cross, Caballero tried to avoid a corner but he came too late.
     
    37
    Málaga try to calm the game down a bit after these three big chances for the guests.
     
    35
    Next big opportunity for Athletic! After a cross from the left wing San José gets the ball alone in front of Caballero but the ball goes wide!
     
    34
    Incredible double chance for Bilbao!!! First Caballero cleared a shot by Ibai Gómez with his left leg and then the ball came back from the right side of the Málaga area and this time the goalkeeper made a spectacular desperation save against Aduriz from about half a metre distance!!
     
    33
    When the guests finally came through in a situation, an opponent shot the ball against the hand of Aduriz and the situation was over again...
     
    32
    Two fouls in the midfield against Athletic players.
     
    30
    Ander with a pass for Susaeta towards the right wing. He was offside a few inches and is called back.
     
    28
    Heavy crash between Antunes and Iraola - head against head.
     
    27
    The ball stays in the midfield now as Málaga want to see how the guests react after the goal against.
     
    25
    Athletic's team captain Gurpegi already has to leave the pitch with an injury. In for him is Mikel San José.
     
    23
    Julio Baptista with a shot from the border of the 18-yard box, directly aimed towards Raúl Fernández who had problems and blocked the ball forward.
     
    22
    Caballero intercepts a high cross by the guests before an Athletic striker could get the ball at the second post.
     
    20
    The guests from Bilbao try to reorganize themselves now. They didn't get into the Málaga half for several minutes.
     
    18
    Goal for Málaga!


    Piazon with a flat pass from the left side of the Athletic area back to the penalty point where Saviola waited and shot the ball into the left top corner! The deserved lead for the home side!
     
    17
    Next distance shot by the hosts. This time Isco tried it but there was no power behind this ball. Easy save for Raúl Fernández.
     
    16
    The corner from the right side was directed towards Weligton whose header went over the crossbar.
     
    15
    Málaga defender Antunes gets the ball 25 metres in front of the guest goal. His blast was cleared for a corner with a spectacular save by Raúl Fernández! First big chance of the game!
     
    13
    Discussion between the referee and one of assistants. Seems there is something wrong with the microphones they use.
     
    11
    A ball for Sergio Sánchez goes out... both teams lack precision.
     
    10
    Long ball by Málaga from inside the guest area, goes wide - goal kick Athletic.
     
    8
    After the good start the game has really slowed down.
     
    6
    The game continues.
     
    4
    Iraola was hit when Isco played the ball in the Málaga half. As he lays on the ground right now for further treatment the play is stopped.
     
    3
    On the other side Portillo has the first shot for Málaga but it goes wide half a metre.
     
    2
    Aggressive start by the guests from Bilbao. After a couple of seconds they already earned their first corner and then Gurpegi's header went wide.
     
    1
    Game started.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Málaga CF: Caballero - S. Sánchez, Lugano, Weligton, Antunes - I. Camacho - Portillo, Piazon, J. Baptista, Isco - Saviola

    Athletic Bilbao: R. Fernández - Aurtenetxe, Laporte, Gurpegi, Iraola - Ander, Iturraspe - I. Gómez, De Marcos, Susaeta - Aduriz

    Referees: González González
     
    Málaga CF were 4th in the Primera División table before this matchday with 39 points in 23 games. Usually this would be a reason for joy but for financial problems the team has been banned from playing in Europe next year. Still it's good for the fans if the team wins. Today's guests Athletic Bilbao are in far more serious trouble as they were 15th with only 26 points and only a six points more than the relegation zone.

    Although Málaga stayed unbeaten during their last four matches, they had quite a few problems in their own stadium where they only gained draws against teams from the lower parts of the table like Celta de Vigo (1-1) and Real Zaragoza (1-1) while they won away against RCD Mallorca (3-2) and Levante UD (2-1). For Athletic Bilbao games in recent weeks were an up-and-down. After a series with good results against Real Betis (1-1), Atlético Madrid (3-0) and Real Valladolid (2-2) they were heavily beaten at home by Espanyol Barcelona last week (0-4).

    The head-to-head record in Primera División between these two teams speaks clearly for Athletic Bilbao but the Basques couldn't win in Málaga during their last 8 visits or better said since the year 2001.

    If Málaga can stay in the top group of the league with another win or if Athletic can increase the distance towards the relegation zone, we'll see soon.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:00 GMT / 18:00 CET.
    Commentary by

    Dennis Mende

    Goals & lineups
    Goals: 18. Saviola

    Cards:   87. Camacho (MAL), 89. Lugano (MAL) - 41. Iraola (BIL), 60. Laporte (BIL)

    Malaga CF: Caballero - S. Sánchez, Lugano, Weligton, Antunes - I. Camacho - Portillo, Piazon (80. Joaquín), J. Baptista (58. Toulalan), Isco - Saviola (58. Santa Cruz)
    Athletic Bilbao: R. Fernández - Aurtenetxe, Laporte, Gurpegi (25. San José), Iraola - Ander, Iturraspe - I. Gómez, De Marcos (65. F. Llorente), Susaeta - Aduriz
    Referees: González González