So, eventually the day has come! My first game at the Roselada, as Malaga play host to newly promoted not so distant neighbours, Granada CF. Not as glamourous as the first one was supposed to be, would have been Barca were it not for the strike that delayed the season, and not a great start for the biggest spenders in the league, as they became the second of my 3 teams to lose their frst derby of the season, going down way too easily to a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla (who, frankly were cantering until they let off and let Malaga have a go last half hour). The lack of a decent partner for Rondon was made more apparent by Alvaro Negredo doing just what Malaga need, and scoring a simple yet majestic header, a proper strikers bread and butter goal, before notching another easly converted second to see Sevilla cruising. A wonderful free kick form 18million euro new boy Santi Cazorla papered over the cracks. Granada were beaten at home by fellow league new boys Betis, and frankly look woefully inadequate for La Liga, expect a Malaga victory, if your gambling, take them with a 1 handicap. I'll report on the game tomorrow, with pics if i can be arsed, assuming my house hasn't been burned down by the rather large forest fire burning a few miles from me, and heading this way, which has destroyed a few homes and seen 300-odd evacuated thus far!
'this is a Sunderland board, blah blah blah...' Van Nostrilboy was on SSN earlier with a piece on Malaga, some Brit fans being interviewed outside a local pub.
Awesome. Stadium is pretty ugly from the outside, but really steep sided like a gladitorial theatre, looking quite sharply down to the pitch, fabulous. Santi Cazorla & Joaquin tooke the piss, and never broke a sweat, what a pair of players, 2 each. Malaga cantered it, some immaculate, tidy sharp football, but clearly they will ship a few goals to the better teams, not that they were bad defensively, but left gaping gaps between the CB's that a Messi, Alonso , Xavi or Banega would just thread a ball through for fun. Impressive all round, the sound when a goal goes in is bizarre, kinda like the reverse sound of what an English crowd makes. Enjoyable experience, even the trip home has only took 40 mins or so.
Thanks for the update. I visited Malaga 2 years ago and fell in love with the place. Ive followed their results ever since!
Was superb mate, the ground, the game, everything. So different, the people are quite relaxed, not like watching Sunderland! Chatting and smiling, no one seems to be actually making any noise, but there is a din, like i mentioned, the actual view down onto the pitch is weird, cos it doesn't look any steeper than the north stand. Really enjoyed it, and Santi Cazorla, what a ****ing magician! That's what 18million euro get, total individual brilliance, without even appearing to try. 3 goals in 2 games.
Ever been to Stavanger? and as for Bavaria Ive worked there many many times, usually 8 months at a time, and the summer climate is excellent, hotter than ours, but having worked all my adult life abroad, the one thing you cant beat or replicate is the ordinary British pub.
Hopefully I can go back one day and take in a match. Malaga beat Madrid last time I was there, but i never had chance to go to the game!
