Rubén Castro equalised after Diego Collado’s great goal and Villarreal B return from Málaga with a point
Villarreal B earned a point at La Rosaleda against a combative Málaga side in need of points and with their new coach in front of his home fans. Diego Collado, with a great volley, gave the Yellows the lead, but Rubén Castro equalised a few minutes later.
The Mini Submarine started the game looking dangerous with a direct free-kick from Dani Tasende going wide in the first minute, although Málaga’s reply came early and in the same way. It promised to be an exciting match. Despite the home side’s need to win, Miguel Álvarez’s side began by dominating possession and pressing quickly after losing possession.
The goal came sooner rather than later and Collado pulled a superb volley out of his sleeve to score one of the best goals of the season already. The winger caught Manolo Reina by surprise to put the Yellows ahead. Shortly after, Alberto Del Moral almost scored the second, but did not make good contact with the ball in the six-yard box and, in the next move of the match, Málaga equalised. Castro got the tip of his boot to a cross that looked like he was not going to get to and deflected the ball just enough to take it past Gianni Cassaró.
The game was level again and with this it went into half-time all square in an exciting and evenly-matched game. In the second half, Miguel Álvarez brought on Antonoi Pacheco in place of Thiago Ojeda. In the early stages of the second half, Tasende and Sergio Lozano had a go at shots from outside the area neither found the back of the net. Nikita Iosifov and Haissem Hassan also came on to try to gain pace and attacking options against a Málaga side that had begun to take possession of the ball.
However, neither side were able to find the winner and Villarreal B got a point away from home in a stadium where it is never easy to play.
Next up for Villarreal B is a league match against Burgos CF on Saturday 1st October at 9pm CEST.
Lineups
Málaga CF: M. Reina; Juanfran, Moussa, Escassi, J. Jiménez; Hervias (m. 58, Chavarria), A. Febas (m. 58, Ramón), N’diaye, Álex Gallar; F. Villalba (m. 71, Fran Sol), Rubén Castro.
Villarreal B: Gianni; M.A. Leal, Dela, Mbacke, Tasende (m. 86, C. Romero); D. Collado (m. 71, Haissem), A. del Moral, Rodrigo (m. 89, Tiago), S. Lozano; Arana (m. 71, Iosifov), Ojeda (m. 46, Pacheco).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 20: D. Collado. 1-1. Min. 26: Rubén Castro.
Referee: García Verdura. Booked: A. Febas, Ramón (Málaga CF); S. Lozano, Tiago (Villarreal B).
Matchday information: Match between Málaga CF and Villarreal B, corresponding to Matchday 7 of the 2022/23 LaLiga SmartBank season, at La Rosaleda.
