Atletico de Madrid 0 : 3 Malaga - Malaga too strong for Atletico

Posted Saturday, May 07, 2011 by PA

Atletico Madrid's lacklustre season continued with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat by in-form Malaga.

Quique Sanchez Flores' side are attempting to salvage Europa League football from the embers of a hugely disappointing season but those ambitions were dented by Malaga's fourth successive Primera Division victory.

The Andalucians' comfortable win was brought about by Jose Salomon Rondon and Julio Baptista's headers in the first half before Enzo Maresca's late third added the gloss.

Atletico suffered a blow in the 21st minute when centre-back Luis Perea had to go off injured.

Despite neither team fashioning a chance up to that point, the dull opening was ended by a goal in the 29th minute.

It came from Rondon as the Venezuelan striker shrugged off the attentions of his marker to meet Jesus Gamez Duarte's cross from the right wing and power a header past Atleti stopper David De Gea.

The hosts were rocking and six minutes later it was 2-0. Again it came from a header but this time the scorer was Baptista, the some-time Brazil international impressively directing the ball home from Sebastian Fernandez's centre.

Baptista had another chance two minutes later when his powerful volley went wide and before the half was out, Atletico managed an opening of their own. Sergio Aguero's effort from outside the box crept wide, however.

Atletico looked to regroup at half-time and started the second period better, Mario Suarez firing wide from 25 yards seconds into the half.

Raul Garcia then headed Jose Antonio Reyes' cross over the bar.

There followed a fallow period before out-of-form Diego Forlan shot wide from distance for the home team. Another effort from the edge of the box was similarly off target before Rondon's weak effort at the other end.

Forlan finally forced Willy Caballero into a save - though it was quite comfortable for the Malaga keeper.

Atleti's misery was complete when Maresca reacted quickest to slam home a rebound from Baptista's 84th-minute shot to make it 3-0 and send the fans rushing for the exits.

Those who remained saw Diego Costa's header brilliantly saved by Caballero and Forlan's shot also saved well but it was of little comfort to the home faithful.