First Division - Day 31

Málaga 2 - Barcelona 0

Málaga: Kameni; Rosales, Luis Hernández, Diego Llorente, Ricca, Juan Carlos (Jony 83’); Juanpi (Peñaranda 67’), Recio, Camacho, Pablo Fornals; Sandro (Charles 77’). 5-4-1.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Mascherano, Umtiti, Mathieu (Sergi Roberto 46’), Jordi Alba; Denis Suárez (Iniesta 46’), Busquets, André Gomes (Paco Alcácer 61’); Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Sandro. Ran on to long Juan Carlos pass and steered shot past keeper.
2-0. 90. Jony. Fired shot past Ter Stegen after Fornals laid ball back on breakaway.

Yellow cards: Jordi Alba 08’, Neymar 27’, 65’, Umtiti 33’, Ricca 37’, Recio 45’, Peñaranda 69’, Juan Carlos 82’, Mascherano 87’ / red cards: Neymar 65’.

Barcelona failed to take advantage of Real Madrid’s draw against Atlético earlier in the day, a 2-0 defeat at Málaga in the last match of Saturday evening leaving them four points behind the leaders having played a game more. Kameni had to keep out Luis Suárez early on but, with half an hour on the clock, ex Barça striker Sandro ran on to long pass from Juan Carlos to put the Andalusians ahead. Luis Enrique brought on Iniesta and Sergi Roberto at the break, but Juanpi could have scored a second when he shot straight at Ter Stegen when free on goal, and the visitors were left with ten men when Neymar was shown a second yellow card by Gil Manzano for a foul on Llorente a few minutes later. Soon afterwards substitute Peñaranda had a strike ruled out for a questionable offside decision, and Sergi Roberto also felt himself hard done by when he was brought down in the area, the referee awarding a free kick rather than a penalty. Luis Enrique threw everything forward as the clock ticked down, but with the game in injury time Jony wrapped things up for Michel’s side on a quick breakaway. A major blow for the Catalans, but they have to pick themselves up for Tuesday night’s Champions League tie at Juventus.