FC Barcelona opened up their first home match of the 2015-16 La Liga season with a 1-0 victory against Malaga at the Camp Nou, thanks to a goal from Thomas Vermaelen. He ended his goalless streak of 226 minutes of league play since joining the club last summer.
The first half of the match was a poor showing by the treble winning side last season but also a controversial one, as they were denied two clear penalties by referee Jamie Latre.
Controversy at the Camp Nou
The first chance for Barcelona came as early as the fourth minute when Luis Suarez was denied a goal, when the Uruguayan’s header from a corner was ruled out following a foul on a Malaga player. In the 8th minute, Sergio Busquets shot went just went of Carlos Kameni’s goal.
Ten minutes later, Malaga almost scored from 50 yards out when Juan Carlos went inches from lobbing goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who was way out of his goal.
Barcelona went close again soon after. A cross on the left by Lionel Messi found countryman Javier Mascherano, who still hasn't scored a league goal in his Barça career, but only his header came back off the woodwork and went out for a goal kick.
Messi turned creator again after recieving the ball out on the right and dribbled inside before rolling a pass across the top of the box to Neymar, who was back after missing two weeks due to mumps. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, his shot went straight at Carlos Kameni as Los Boquerones were becoming more difficult to break down as the game went on and began to frustrate Barcelona.
However, that was understable as they were denied two clear penalties. Both coming only five minutes from the break as Neymar was able check back inside when right-back Miguel Torres went to slide in and touched the ball with his arm, leaving the Brazilian furious. Seconds later, Suarez went down in the box following a challenge from Marcos Angeleri, and the Argentine didn't appear to get a touch on the ball. Both times, Latre signaled play on.
Finally, Thomas
In the second half, things were a bit different. In the 57th minute, Messi was denied once more following a run in from the right as he bent a shot towards the opposite corner before instead firing it towards the near post as Kameni was able to get down quickly and get the ball just in time.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper had a brilliant match in Barcelona as again he denied the Argentine magician eight minutes later from a extremely tight angle and just moments later when the recently named UEFA Best Player in Europe rifled a shot from 25 yards, leaving the Cameroonian to get two hands behind the ball to parry it.
He was finally beaten in the 73rd minute when a cross drilled by Luis Suarez was stopped by Kameni but the Belgian defender was able to get his first time effort on the the follow up from that save on target and beat Kameni, getting his first ever goal for the club.
Malaga would just have one more chance to equalise deep into injury time, as Duje Cop was able to square it to Charles for a chance on goal. However, Jordi Alba slid in and stopped the Brazilian from getting a shot off.
In the end, Barcelona have six points from a possible six and sit top of the table as the international break arrives, with their next match is against Atletico Madrid on the 12th in Madrid. Malaga, who only picked up one point after their draw against rivals Sevilla, will take on Eibar next time out.