Malaga 1 - 4 Real Madrid (Highlights) | Barcelona 2 - 1 Valencia

Malaga 1 - 4 Real Madrid

Who said Real Madrid are lacking in firepower? They couldn't score a goal for love nor money two weeks ago, but ten goals in two matches has seen Madrid jump to the summit in La Liga. Not only have they conceded the least goals they have now also scored the most and it's clear Mourinho's message is beginning to hit home. Of course, it was only a matter of time before Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain hit form, possibly spurred on by reports of Madrid chasing a new striker, and they were irresistible in La Rosaleda as they ripped a shell-shocked Malaga to pieces. Cristiano was at the heart of everything last night, with two goals and two assists as the Portuguese star carried on his impressive international form onto the club stage. Mesut Özil also put in a dazzling shift as he proved he can make things happen away from the Bernabeu, while Higuain showed the world his radar is back in business. Much of the talk before the match had been about whether Real Madrid could cope with Malaga's speed and incision on the break, but in the end it was yet another home defeat for the Malagueños and a defiant show of strength from the team now looking down on the rest.

Barcelona 2 - 1 Valencia

Barcelona survived a first half onslaught from Valencia to nick two second half goals and jump above Valencia in the table. Pablo Hernandez had slotted Los Che in front following a surging run from full back Matheiu, and could so easily have made it two, denied by Victor Valdes when through on goal. It would have been no less than what Valencia deserved having starved Barcelona of possession. It was a surreal first 45 minutes, the Camp Nou so accustomed to seeing their side dominate proceedings, saw their team struggle badly, continuing a worrying patch of form that has already seen them drop five points at home so far this season. But commeth the hour, commeth the man, and that man was Xavi Hernandez, returning from a spell on the sidelines to set up two goals after half time for Andres Iniesta and Carlos Puyol. The first assist was a fantastic one-two with Iniesta, and the second a pinpoint cross which was headed home emphatically by Puyol. With David Villa and Leo Messi off-colour once again, it was exactly the tonic that Barca needed and Pep Guardiola will be hoping it awakes his team from their recent slumber.

Interview with Malagas Quincy and Eliseu

 

Tomorrow night Real Madrid travel to the Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga for what promises to be an explosive 90 minutes of football. After struggling badly last year, a rejuvenated Malaga have produced some electric performances so far this season, not to mention an avalanche of goals such as the five in thirty minute job that smashed Real Zaragoza to pieces on Matchday 2 at La Romareda. Two of the men who form an integral part of this lightning-quick side capable of ripping any team apart on the counter are Eliseu and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie. Eliseu is enjoying a renaissance at Malaga after a season getting back in form at Zaragoza while Quincy has taken no time at all in winning over the home support with some dazzling shows down the right wing after arriving on loan from Qatari club Al-Sadd. Here you have an exclusive interview with these two speed-demons, conducted by the main man down at the Rosaleda, David Redshaw. Mourinho...you've been warned.

How are things?

Quincy: I’m happy and I’ve adapted well. I feel strong, though I’m still not at my best.

Eliseu: I’m happy too and so are my family. I already knew the people here so I had no trouble adapting. Lots of things are the same as when I left, and I have to make the most of this opportunity.

-Is Eliseu a better player than he was last time?

E: I think so. Things change and I now take more responsibility. I’m more involved in dead ball situations. But everybody knows that when Duda comes back the free kicks are his.

-Can Málaga finish in the top ten?

Q: We have to take it one step at a time. We have good players and it’s a very hard league. I played in la segunda with Celta but I think it’s easier to play against the best. In the second division everybody is fighting to go up; in the first it’s more about quality.

-Who’s the quickest, Eliseu or Quincy?

E: It doesn’t matter. To have players with pace in the team is always good. On the right, on the left, in defence, anywhere...........

Q: I don’t know who is fastest. We need to use our speed, that’s the most important thing. The more players we have with pace the better. Seba and Rondón are both quick and this year we’ll win a lot of games with our speed.

-Have either of you been timed over 100 metres?

Q: I haven’t. I don’t know how to run without the ball. I need to see it to even run. I like to watch athletics but not practice it.

E: No, I’ve never been timed either.

-Quincy, you won the fans over after just one game....

Q: Yes they seem to be with me. When I get the ball it gives me confidence. When the fans are happy I always try to do better and raise my game. The atmosphere in the ground is brilliant. I wish I’d arrived months ago.

E: I tried to come in January but it wasn’t to be and I had to wait. It was probably better to arrive at the start of the season, as Muñiz said the main fault last year was a lack of pace. Now pace will be one of this team’s main weapons. This year we will be one of the best counter-attacking sides in the league. We will be lethal.

-Finally Eli, which Málaga is better? This team or the one you left a year ago?

E: I wouldn’t like to say. The nucleus of the team is still the same, but expectations are higher. We need to be ready to maintain the level the fans expect. The coach has given us a winning mentality. He came from Porto, where he almost always won, and his team was in the Champions League. So now we only think of winning, and that’s good for Málaga.

By David Redshaw author of 'Málaga Football Club - The Story'
Malaga Football Club - The Story

Scotland 2 - 3 Spain (Highlights) : Llorente to the rescue!

Scotland 2 - 3 Spain

(0-1) 43' Villa (p), (0-2) 55' Iniesta, (1-2) 58' Naismith, (2-2) 67' Pique (o.g), (2-3) 79' Llorente

Spain 3 - 1 Lithuania (Highlights)

Spain 3 - 1 Lithuania
(1-0) 47' Llorente, (1-1) 54' Sernas, (2-1) 57' Llorente, (3-1) 79' Silva

Tonight was a test of Spains strength in depth and if the performance and result is anything to go by, they passed with flying colours. La Roja were deprived of Xavi, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Alonso, but in stepped players like Santi Cazorla, Fernando Llorente, Pablo Hernandez and Aritz Aduriz to make sure Spain made it two wins out of two in Group I. Spain dominated the first half and how they went into the break still at 0-0 only David Villa will know. Usually so sharp infront of goal, he contrived to hit the post when scoring seemed far easier and looked far from happy when subbed late on. The Barca man will have better days at the office.

Fernando Llorente was the man who had opened that opportunity for Villa and it was the big man from Bilbao who broke the deadlock just after half-time after good work down the right from Sergio Ramos. Lithuania then took advantage of some poor positioning from Puyol to score their first ever goal against Spain through Sernas, before the unplayable Llorente almost immediately swooped again to put Spain ahead once more. Real Madrid will be keeping tabs on the Navarran giant. Cazorla this time was the creator, and it was just reward for a performance full of verve and imagination. David Silva added the third with a glorious header from the edge of the box to cap off a dominant display from Vicente Del Bosques side. Next up Scotland at Hampden Park.