FC Barcelona were able to get a crucial away win against Malaga with goals from Munir and Lionel Messi. It took a while to get the Blaugrana to get accustomed in the 90 minutes, especially missing some key players, but in the end, they were able to get the important three points at the Estadio La Rosaleda.
Shaky first half
It didn’t take long for Barcelona to take the lead as they opened the game inside two minutes from Munir. Following off a fantastic pass from Messi, which allowed Luis Suarez to go on a fantastic run, he was able to play the ball from the right to Barcelona academy player to easily finish it past goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.
Following that goal, Malaga were quickly going on the counterattack with various chances being made, such as one from Charles in the ninth minute with a chip, but it eventually went wide out of Claudio Bravo’s goal. Five minutes later, Chory Castro had another chance from a corner as his header was able to allow the Chilean goalkeeper to react excellently and to push it onto the post.
Various mistakes were given from the defending La Liga champions off a poor display from the back four of the Catalans, who clearly were suffering with the absence of Gerard Pique. Such examples occurred such as one in the 27th minute when Ignacio Camacho gets his chance following Bravo's terrible clearance, but once again, Javier Mascherano, someone who has been in the headlines just days priors, is there to clean up the mess and denied a chance.
It was only a matter of time as in the 32nd minute, Malaga level from Juanpi. Following a mistake from the defense, Mascherano gifted a pass to a Malaga, the ball from Charles was eventually played to Juanpi, as he finishes past Bravo, who had no chance to stopping the shot.
Malaga almost took the lead four minutes from time as Charles from the right side makes an effort but Bravo was able to make a good save as well. Down the other end of the pitch, Munir also had another chance on the left hand side that was saved by Kameni. The ball was later played to Lionel Messi but Miguel Torres was able to stop Messi’s chance from scoring a goal.
Comfortable second half
In the second half, Barcelona continued on various chances and eventually took the lead in the 51st minute from Messi. Following a cross from the left by Adriano, the Argentine magician was able to perform an acrobatic goal on his left to score past Kameni.
Four minutes later, Castro again had a chance in the six yard box but was taken away from Bravo and cleared from Jeremy Mathieu. In the 73rd minute, a close call was given to Barcelona. As Mascherano cleared the ball weakly, Malaga was able to pounce near the top of the box. Camacho was able to take aim from that position, but it was pushed away well by Bravo in time, with the hosts unable to pounce on the rebound at the back post to give an equalizer.
In the end, a crucial away win was given to FC Barcelona, even with the absence of Pique and Neymar, but they still have a game in hand and go top of the league, pending results of Atletico Madrid. They will now host Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals and then host the Colchoneros next week in La Liga. Malaga, who are 12th now in the table, will take on Eibar.