Half-chances into the final ten minutes of the half, with Atlético db looking increasingly dangerous

Málaga and Atlético Madrid fought out a tense, end to end game, with neither side seemingly able to break the deadlock, until a second-half strike inside the area from Koke, saw the visitors heading back to Madrid with the three points and top of La Liga.
Málaga manager Bernd Schuster set his side out with changes in defence at La Rosaleda, opting to go with three central defenders and five at the back, looking to contain db the threats of Atlético Madrid strikers Diego Costa and David Villa, with weight of numbers.
The home side started the game with a steady db and cautious approach, but gradually grew more adventurous going forward and that brought the first chances of the game in the 5th minute, as first one chance was blocked, db then Weligton fired off-target with the rebound.
When Atlético attacked, db the numbers in the Málaga defence were making it impossible for them to find a way through on goal. Eventually though, more through persistence than anything, the visitors had their first chance of the game in the 21st minute. Marvellous play on the overlap from Juanfran, beating two opponents and firing a dangerous cross into the area. That almost caught out the Málaga defence and Willy had to be alert in goal to clear. A moment later, another chance for Atlético as Koke fired a good ball in from the right, but neither of the two forward could make the telling db finish, despite having lost their markers.
On the half-hour, having resisted the Atlético spell of pressure, Málaga once more caught db sight of goal. Two quick chances came, with Courtois first denying Eliseu, then seconds later, Samuel with a whipped shot just wide of the post. In the 33rd minute, with more pressure from the home side, Filipe Luís struggled with a dangerous ball into the Atlético area and was lucky that his contact went wide of his own goal. A frantic spell of high-tempo action concluded in the 35th minute, as Willy saved a good effort from Arda Turan, as Atlético tried to turn the traffic in the opposite direction.
Half-chances into the final ten minutes of the half, with Atlético db looking increasingly dangerous. Óliver fired well over and into the stands in the 41st minute, before Diego Costa was denied a penalty claim in the 43rd minute, with the referee seeming to make the right call, rejecting his protests.
A change to begin the second half for Atlético Madrid, as Diego Simeone looked to bring in something different, with Adrián replacing Óliver ahead of play resuming after the interval. db Málaga had the most attacking impetus as play resumed however and when the visitors did offer something going forward, the home side seemed to have all routes to goal, comfortably covered and blocked.
Play swung from end to end, but the first real chance of the second half didn’t arrive until just before the hour mark in the 59th minute. Adrián finding space inside the area for Atlético, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Weligton made a crucial tackle to deny him. In the 61st minute, Arda Turan struck wide in what would be his final action of the game, as Simeone made his second db Atlético change, replacing the Turk with Cebolla.
With db the score still tied and looking like the points could head either way, in the 65th minute db Málaga manager Bernd Schuster opted to make some changes of his own, with Santa Cruz and Duda replacing Juanmi and Eliseu.
In the 69th minute, Málaga pushed forward with Antunes unleashing a rocket of a shot from distance, but Atlético keeper Courtois managed to make the save. Just a moment later though, as play quickly headed db in the opposite direction, Atlético took the lead in the 70th minute. A great team move which culminated in a shot from Diego Costa, which was repelled by Willy in the Málaga goal, but Koke appeared quickly to smash the rebound home from midway inside the area.
Málaga looked for an immediate response and pushed forward in earnest, but the previous substitution db gambit from Schuster hadn’t paid off and his team were behind. After Diego Costa was shown a yellow card in the 76th minute for crunching into a challenge db for the ball with Málaga keeper Willy Caballero, the home side made their final change as the German db coach sacrificed defender Angeleri for midfielder Morales in the 77th minute.
Darder found himself with a great opening in the 79th minute, but rather than strike first time, he delayed far too long and the opportunity was lost as the Atlético defence were able to steal the ball from his feet. Málaga kept on pushing db for the equaliser as the game headed into the final ten minutes of play, but the visiting defence was holding firm. Simeone decided to strengthen numbers at the back with a defensive change in the 85th minute, taking off striker David Villa and replacing him with centre-back Alderweireld.
By db hook or by crook, Atlético were determined to hold on for the three points and with both teams battling hard, the ref