The curious paradox of Malaga

Why is Malaga infallible at home and unsafe away? A mystery that not even Iker Jiménez could decipher. “It has no explanation because we always play the same way. Last year it was the other way around ”, Jozabed recently commented in a recent interview with As. The figures are incontestable. Málaga is the strongest team at home together with Las Palmas. The two have added 20 points, one more than the leader, Almería. But away from home he has not won any match adding only three draws, worst visitor together with Alcorcón.

These can be some points to explain the strength in your stadium. Support from the fans. La Rosaleda is a very crowded field. The fans support the team from minute one and the players notice it. “It’s amazing,” coach José Alberto usually says. Against Tenerife there were 15-700 spectators. Second best entry after 15,901 against Zaragoza. A great entry if we take into account that the game was played on Monday and that people are still with restrictions in the stadiums and changing again the habits acquired during the COVID stage that we have not yet overcome

Goals before the break. This data is very interesting. Of the nine goals that Málaga has scored against their fans, eight have been in the first half. All the games, except for Zaragoza, ended in victory. Only one goal (Paulino against Girona) entered the second half.

Live with sufferingor. In line with the previous section. When Málaga is ahead on the scoreboard, it manages its advantage by developing an enormous defensive work. Sometimes he gives the initiative to the rival and causes more than one tachycardia to his fans because he does not close the matches. He does not concede many chances and ends up winning, almost always by the minimum.

Confidence. Another aspect to consider. When Málaga steps on the Rosaleda it transmits good vibes unlike what happens away from home.

Arbitrations. In this regard there are no grounds for complaint. Goal annulled against Tenerife by the strange offside de rigueur, but ‘penalty’ by Aitor Sanz on Brandon. For something similar about Víctor Gómez in Cartagena who most of the least complained. The good news is that the VAR has not formed any noteworthy escabechina. Quite the contrary. Two goals disallowed against Mirandés in the only match that ended 0-0.

The consolidation of Dani Martín. The goalkeeper spoke yesterday after finishing the game and what he commented was interesting. “We have another home game this week, at the end two straight home games can give you an important leap in the standings if you take it forward and we are going to go with everything. As we have gone today. Let’s see if we materialize a few more chances and we can leave a clean sheet again ”.

Living without Genaro. The midfielder will not be able to play next Saturday against Las Palmas due to the accumulation of cautions. José Alberto will have to retouch the center of the field. At least he will recover Víctor Gómez who has been with the U21.