Malaga held by resurgent Athletic

MADRID (AFP) –

Malaga CF‘s midfielder Ignacio Camacho (R) vies with Athletic Bilbao’s forward Iker Muniain (L) during their Spanish league football match Athletic Bilbao vs Malaga CF at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao. Malaga maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they hung on for a 0-0 draw against a much improved Athletic Bilbao, who dominated the encounter.

Malaga maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they hung on for a 0-0 draw against a much improved Athletic Bilbao, who dominated the encounter.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have started the season brightly with three wins but were pegged back by an Athletic side who produced some of their best football of the campaign so far but they crucially lacked an end product.

It has been a difficult period for Athletic with Javi Martinez leaving the club and Fernando Llorente’s future in doubt – factors affecting their early form. But they are now finally bouncing back.

A motivated Athletic went out to take the game to Malaga and pushed the Andalusians back as they circulated the ball well.

Malaga welcomed Jeremy Toulalan back to the starting lineup but he looked jaded after missing several weeks with injury and generally the side looked tired following their European exertions where they beat Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League in mid-week.

Athletic had half-chances for Markel Susaeta and Aritz Aduriz while Malaga’s threat came down the wings on the break, notably the surging runs of Nacho Monreal.

It was a similar story after the break where if anything Athletic were too intricate with their passes and were crowded out by a resolute Malaga backline.

Susaeta had their best opening late on but was denied by a good save from the keeper Wily Caballero.

Meanwhile, Mallorca and Atletico Madrid maintained their strong starts to the season with 2-0 and and 2-1 victories over Valencia and Valladolid respectively, while Levante beat Real Sociedad 2-1.

Later, Real Madrid were set to face city rivals Rayo Vallecano – floodlight failure which caused a delay permitting – aiming to rein in Barcelona who are currently eleven points ahead of them following their last gasp 2-0 win over Granada on Saturday night.

Jose Mourinho’s men have managed only one victory so far which has left them on just four points and although it is still early days the pressure is starting to grow and there are rumours of a rift developing in the dressing room between the coach and some of his players.

Madrid’s comeback to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the Champions League in mid-week has improved spirits but the decision to drop Sergio Ramos stoked up talk of a clash between the defender and Mourinho, and now it remains to be seen whether he starts against Rayo.