First Division - Day 12

Barcelona 0 - Málaga 0

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Mascherano, Digne (Jordi Alba 62‘); Denis Suárez (André Gomes 68’), Busquets, Rafinha (Rakitic 77’); Arda Turan, Paco Alcácer, Neymar. 4-3-3.
Málaga: Kameni; Rosales, Diego Llorente, Miguel Torres, Mikel Villanueva, Ricca; Javi Ontiveros (Luis Muñoz 69’), Pablo Fornals (Duda 96’), Juanpi, Juan Carlos; Sandro (En-Nesyri 81’). 5-4-1.

Goals: None.

Yellow cards: Ricca 22’, Javi Ontiveros 62’ / red cards: Diego Llorente 68’, Juan Carlos 97’.

Second placed Barcelona lost ground on leaders Real Madrid after they were held to a 0-0 draw in the Nou Camp by Málaga. Missing the suspended Luis Suárez, and with Messi pulling out at the last minute with a stomach upset, Luis Enrique’s side were unable to find a way past the excellent Kameni and his defence, Neymar, Denis Suárez and Rafinha all failing to find the target before the break, and Piqué and Rafinha bringing good saves out of the local keeper. Ex Barça striker Sandro caused some problems for Ter Stegen however on counter-attacks before the break, and soon after the restart Juan Carlos rounded Ter Stegen only to shoot wide. Midway through the second half the visitors had Diego Llorente sent off for a hard tackle on Neymar, and they ended with nine men after Juan Carlos was also red-carded for protesting to the referee as the game went in to eighth minute of time added on. However Kameni pulled off a string of saves to deny Arda Turan, André Gomes and others, and although Piqué got the ball in the net near the end after a Gomes header came back off the bar, the referee ruled out the strike for a borderline offside.