A draw in the fight for Europe at La Rosaleda

Málaga CF and Villarreal CF drew 1-1 in the 18th round of fixtures in Liga BBVA.  Just before the break Jonathan dos Santos put the visitors ahead, while Nordin Amrabat equalised on the hour mark.

In the first half it was Málaga who dominated the ball but could not find a way past Sergio Asenjo. The first to test out the Yellows’ goalkeeper was Amarabat, who fired from distance. Vitorino Antunes had two chances, but Asenjo once again saved his side. Carlos Kameni also came to his side’s rescue when Ikechukwu Uche ran through on goal. With the first half seemingly destined to end goalless, Villarreal’s Jonathan dos Santos opened the scoring with a stunning right-footed effort.

A quarter of an hour after the restart, the home side were back on levels terms. Amarabat took down a long ball that was played over the top of the visiting defence, and delightfully lifted the ball over the onrushing Asenjo. Despite being up against it, Marcelino García Toral’s men almost stole it at the end, however Kameni was on hand to deny them. With this result Málaga remain seventh on 31 points, while Villarreal sit sixth on 32.