If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

First Division - Day 1

Málaga 1 – Athletic Bilbao 0

Málaga: Kameni; Rosales, Sergio Sánchez, Weligton, Antunes; Camacho, Sergi Darder (Recio 84’); Horta, Luis Alberto (Duda 72’), Juanmi (Samuel 63’); Santa Cruz. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Iraizoz; Iraola, Laporte, Gurpegi (San José 60’), Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Susaeta (Guillermo 81’), Beñat (Ibai Gómez 46’), Muniain; Aduriz. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 36. Luis Alberto. Steered shot back in to net after Iraizoz saved his penalty.

Yellow cards: Iraizoz 35’, Gurpegi 38’, Camacho 66’, Laporte 68’, Samuel 87’, Horta 93’ / red cards: Duda 88’, Antunes 92’.

The new season kicked off with the game between Málaga and Athletic Bilbao, who came in to the match in the middle of a vital two leg Champions League qualifier against Napoli. Both teams had chances early on, with Aduríz and Horta going close, but the locals took the lead some ten minutes before the break after Iraizoz gave away a penalty on Santa Cruz, Luis Alberto beating the keeper on the rebound after his spot kick was saved. The visitors had the better of the second half, with Kameni having to save from Ibai Gómez, Mikel Rico and Guillermo, and Rico and Susaeta shooting wide. Málaga had Duda and Antunes sent off though late on, the first for a retaliatory push on Muniain and the second for a rash tackle on Guillermo, setting up a frantic last five minutes. Keeper Iraizoz came up for an Ibai Gómez free kick and thought he had scored before Mateu Lahoz ruled out his headed goal for what appeared to be the positional offside of a colleague, and the referee also turned down a last minute penalty appeal for a foul by Kameni on Aduríz. Three points for the locals though, and Athletic have to put all that behind them if they are to win through their tie against Napoli next Wednesday.