Atletico Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points courtesy of a 1-0 win at struggling Malaga on Saturday afternoon.
Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the match as Atletico collected all three points at the expense of a Malaga side that remain rooted to the bottom of the division on 13 points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
2.16pmAfternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from La Rosaleda as basement side Malaga welcome high-flying Atletico Madrid, who will be looking to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to six points. Can the struggling hosts pull off a shock here?
2.19pmAtletico recorded a 1-0 victory over Malaga when the two teams met at the Wanda Metropolitano earlier this season. Atletico also won 2-0 when they travelled to La Rosaleda last term, but Malaga have a recent home win over Atletico to their name – 1-0 in December 2015.
2.22pmRight, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from La Rosaleda. Both teams have had a free week to prepare for this match. Any changes from their games last weekend?
2.25pmTEAMS!
MALAGA: Roberto; Rosales, Miquel, Hernandez, Ricca; Keko, Iturra, Adrian, Castro; En-Nesyri, Ideye
ATLETI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Lucas, Luis; Koke, Gabi, Saul, Vitolo; Costa, Griezmann
2.28pmMalaga boss Jose Gonzalez can welcome Chory Castro back into his starting XI this weekend after the winger missed the defeat at Las Palmas last time out through suspension. There is also a spot in the final third for Youssef En-Nesyri alongside Brown Ideye. Diego Rolan is also back in the squad following injury, although the striker will start this game on the bench.
2.32pmAs for Atletico, head coach Diego Simeone has made four changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Valencia last weekend. Jose Gimenez and Filipe Luis both come into the defence as Stefan Savic and Diego Godin miss out through injury. There are also two changes in midfield as Vitolo and Gabi come in for wide players Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Angel Correa.
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2.35pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in Malaga. I shall speak about the home side a little bit later, but let's start with Atletico, who have been in excellent form in recent weeks. Indeed, Diego Simeone's side are second in La Liga, and another win this afternoon would move them to within six points of leaders Barcelona.
2.38pmAtletico have only lost one of their 22 league matches this season – winning 14 and drawing the other seven. That has brought them a total of 49 points at this stage of the campaign. They are actually nine points clear of third-placed Valencia, and 10 clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid.
2.42pm
🔴⚪🔴👉 It's @LaLiga_en time!
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 10, 2018
🏟📍 La Rosaleda, we're here!#MálagaAtleti #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/GwHcUsKJos
2.45pmOnly Barcelona have picked up more away La Liga points than Atletico this season, with Simeone's side winning seven, drawing three and losing just one of their 11 fixtures on the road. They have only conceded once in their last five league matches, and it will not come a surprise to learn that the capital outfit have the best defensive record this term with just nine goals conceded.
2.48pmAtletico will enter the match off the back of successive home wins over Las Palmas and Valencia. Indeed, they put three unanswered goals past Las Palmas towards the end of last month before beating Valencia 1-0 last time out. They will fancy their chances of putting another three points on the board here, which would cut the gap on Barcelona to six points.
2.52pmThe Europa League returns next week, and Atletico will travel to Copenhagen for the first leg of their round of 32 tie on Thursday night. They will then host Athletic Bilbao in the league before welcoming Copenhagen for the second leg of their Europa League clash. The month will then end with league games against Sevilla and Leganes. Kickoff is now just about 25 minutes away!
2.55pm
🏧👥 | STARTING LINEUP
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 10, 2018
Here's our starting XI for today's match!
🔴⚪🔴 Atleeeeeeeeeeeeeti!#MálagaAtleti #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/mHZFMotmtB
2.58pmAs for Malaga, there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very poor campaign. Indeed, a total of 13 points has left them rooted to the bottom of the table – seven points from the safety of 17th position. They have only won three of their 22 league fixtures, and lost 15 times.
3.02pmMalaga finished 11th in La Liga last season, and have not actually finished lower than that since the 2009-10 campaign, which brought a 17th-placed finish. They have been present in the top flight of Spanish football since 2008, but face the serious possibility of dropping into the second tier.
3.05pmMichel was sacked as head coach following a poor first half to the season, and Jose Gonzalez is now in charge of the club. The Spaniard has lost two and drawn one of his three matches in charge; the last of which was a 1-0 defeat at Las Palmas on Monday night.
3.08pm
#11MCF| Roberto; Rosales (C), Luis Hernández, Ignasi Miquel, F. Ricca; Iturra, Adrián, Keko Gontán, Chory; En-Nesyri and Ideye. #MálagaAtleti⚽️ pic.twitter.com/I10eqrTZG3
— Málaga CF English (@MalagaCF_en) February 10, 2018
3.12pmHere we go then. Both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff at La Rosaleda. Hopefully it is an open and entertaining game of football. Stay tuned for live updates!
0 minKICKOFF! Atletico kick things off at La Rosaleda...
1 min... you do get the feeling that Malaga need to start well here if they are to stand a chance of picking up a positive result. Atletico just do not concede many goals, and it would be a very difficult afternoon for the home side if they concede first. It is a lovely afternoon in Malaga.
1 minGOAL! Malaga 0-1 Atletico (Griezmann)
2 minWell, that did not take long. Terrible start for Malaga. Atletico make the breakthrough inside the first minute as Griezmann clips the ball into the back of the net after Saul's strike is blocked!
4 minAtletico have a problem with Saul as the midfielder stays down following a heavy challenge. However, it looked more of an impact injury, and the Spain international should be able to continue.
6 minThe response from Malaga has been quite positive, but Atletico look dangerous each time that they break into the final third of the field. Could be a long afternoon for the home side here.
8 minBrown Ideye has been lively for Malaga in the opening eight minutes, but the number 12 has not had much in terms of service. There is still a good noise coming from the home supporters here.
10 minStill 1-0 Atletico with 10 minutes on the clock in this match. We have not seen too much from Diego Costa, although the Spaniard has just had a little tangle with Miquel. Some afters as well!
12 minLuis strikes wide of the Malaga post from distance as the away side continue to look threatening. Oblak has been unmoved down the other end for Atletico thus far.
14 minJust a reminder that a win for Atletico would see them close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to six points, which is very impressive when considering that Barcelona have been sensational this season. Atletico are the team closest to the leaders as things stand in La Liga.
16 minHalf-chance for the home side as Keko delivers a low cross into the Atletico box, but Gimenez makes contact ahead of Ideye, who has been threatening for Malaga in the opening 16 minutes.
18 minDiego Costa clips over the Malaga crossbar from inside the box as Atletico continue to look for a second goal at La Rosaleda. Still a really good noise coming from the home supporters here.
18 minHalf-chance for the hosts as Ideye heads just wide of the Atletico goal at the far post.
20 minBOOKING! Iturra (Malaga) is booked for a poor challenge on Costa.
22 minAtletico continue to deliver into the Malaga box, but Hernandez and Miquel have been pretty strong in the air in the opening 22 minutes of this match. The home side have actually performed quite well since conceding in the first minute, which was a disaster start.
24 minVitolo wins Keko to the ground in a wide area, but Malaga cannot make the most of the free kick as Oblak rises to claim the ball. The delivery from Castro was not the best to be honest.
26 minQuite a scrappy game in the last few minutes as the referee is forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. Not too much to report in terms of real quality at the moment.
28 minMalaga are committing four or five players forward each time that they break, and that is leaving space for Atletico down the other end of the field. There is no Carrasco and no Correa for the visitors this afternoon, but Griezmann has the pace tor really hurt Malaga on the break.
31 minLittle under 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Costa has just headed over the Malaga crossbar from inside the box. Half-chance, but Jimenez did not look particularly troubled.
33 minGriezmann delivers a very dangerous free kick into the Malaga box, but Jimenez does well to make the clearance. Gimenez actually went up with the goalkeeper, and he has been left in a heap!
35 minPossession football for Atletico in the last few minutes, but not much to report in terms of chances. It has not been a particularly entertaining match to be brutally honest.
37 minVitolo has found it difficult to get into the game for Atletico, but the Spaniard has just shown an explosive turn of pace to reach the ball before being chopped down by Rosales, who is fortunate to escape a yellow card. The resulting free kick is delivered, and then quickly cleared by Hernandez.
39 minBit of pressure from Malaga in the last couple of minutes, but Keko's cross is cleared by Gimenez. There has been some uncomfortable moments for Atletico's defence here.
42 minNeither side has had a serious chance of note since Griezmann made the breakthrough inside the first minute. It would have been easy for Malaga to fold after conceding so early, but Atletico have struggled to create chances since the opener. It is still delicately poised at La Rosaleda.
42 minBOOKING! Saul (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Keko.
44 minKeko and Ideye have been the two players in a Malaga shirt threatening to make things happen, but the likes of En Nesiry and Castro need to step things up as we approach the break.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Malaga 0-1 Atletico
4.01pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Atletico leading 1-0 courtesy of a strike from Griezmann inside the first minute. It was a terrible start for Malaga, but they responded quite well, and have managed to limit the away side to very little since then.
4.06pmSTATISTICS! Atletico have shaded the possession with 55%, while they managed one shot on target from five attempts. Malaga had three attempts in the first period, but failed to hit the target. Two yellow cards to report in the first period - Iturra for Malaga and Saul for Atletico.
4.11pmBENCH WATCH! Atletico have a lot of talent on their bench this afternoon, with Carrasco, Correa, Gameiro, Thomas and Fernando Torres all available. Malaga, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Bueno, Samuel and fit-again Rolan. Plenty of talent on both benches here!
46 minRESTART! Malaga resume the action here...
47 min... MALAGA SUB! Lacen has replaced Iturra for the home side at the break.
49 minIt has been a decent start to the second period from Malaga, with Keko working the ball into the Atletico box before Adrian had a shot blocked. Atletico have been a little slow since the break.
51 minMalaga look to have a super chance as Hernandez meets a deep free kick, but the offside flag had been raised. The home side need to keep this tempo up as the match progresses here.
53 minAtletico are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Malaga continue to force the issue. This time it is good work from Castro, who dances past a couple of challenges before Vitolo brings him to the deck. The delivery will be from Rosales...
53 min... SAVE! Stunning save from Oblak to keep out the Rosales effort!
54 minATLETICO SUB! Correa replaces Vitolo for the away side.
56 minAtletico are under serious pressure, and that has been the case since the play restarted here. We have seen little from Griezmann and Costa since the half-time break at La Rosaleda.
58 minMALAGA SUB! Rolan replaces Keko for the home side.
60 minJust a couple of signs that Atletico are starting to settle in the second period, although Malaga are still forcing the issue in the final third of the field. I would be very surprised if this finished 1-0.
60 minBOOKING! Lacen (Malaga) is booked for a foul on Griezmann.
62 minStill 1-0 Atletico as we approach the final 25 minutes of this La Liga fixture.
63 minOblak collects a long-range effort from En Nesiry as Malaga force the issue.
65 minAtletico are very much playing within themselves at the moment, which is dangerous when considering that Malaga do not have much to lose as they continue to commit players forward.
67 minThe entertainment value has not quite been there in this match, but Malaga are very much in the argument as we head for the final 20 minutes of action. Griezmann's goal is still the difference.
68 minBOOKING! Vrsaljko (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Rolan.
70 minATLETICO SUB! Thomas replaces Gabi for the away side.
72 minLittle under 20 minutes of football remaining, and Atletico still lead 1-0. We are still waiting for something really exciting to happen. Hopefully that will be the case in the latter stages.
74 minOblak continues to take the pressure off his defence with a series of claims from high balls. The Atletico stopper is without question now one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
76 minLittle under 15 minutes of football remaining at La Rosaleda.
78 minMalaga have shown plenty of fight in the second period, but they are really struggling to create chances. Atletico are preparing to make their third change of the match here.
78 minATLETICO SUB! Fernando Torres replaces Costa for the away side.
79 minBOOKING! En Nesiry (Malaga) is booked for dissent.
81 minWe have entered the final 10 minutes of this La Liga clash. It was a long time ago that Griezmann sent the away side ahead. At the moment, that early strike is the difference at La Rosaleda.
83 minThe home supporters have stayed with their team throughout this match, and it would be fitting if Malaga came up with an equaliser in the final moments. Still more than enough time here.
85 minMALAGA SUB! Samuel replaces Ricca for the home side.
87 minLacen is down receiving some treatment at the moment following an awkward fall.
87 minThere is going to be a chunk of injury time added as Lacen is still on the deck here.
88 minLacen is going to leave the field on a stretcher, and it does not look great for the midfielder.
89 minI should imagine that there will be at least five additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.
90 min+1We are into the first of seven additional minutes here!
90 min+3Malaga are seeing plenty of the ball, but the home side are still struggling to create chances, and Atletico are making it difficult for their opponents to work space in the final third.
90 min+5Atletico continue to clear their lines as we approach the final moments of this match.
90 min+7Possession football for Atletico as we enter the final seconds. Malaga have not really done enough to deserve something form this match. In truth, it has been a poor game overall.
90 min+8FULL-TIME: Malaga 0-1 Atletico Madrid
5.07pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Atletico recording a 1-0 win courtesy of an early strike from Griezmann. Atletico march on while Malaga remain rooted to the bottom of the table. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
