Negredo double ruins Malaga start

LA LIGA FIXTURES: AUG. 28

 

Sunday, August 28
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Sevilla	2-1	Malaga	Recap

 

Alvaro Negredo scored twice as Sevilla opened their Primera Division campaign with an impressive home win over big-spending Malaga.

Malaga have captured the attention in Spain following a summer of heavy investment, but their new-look side looked short on ideas as Negredo ripped them apart.

The Spain striker took just 90 seconds to open his season's account before a second expert finish on 26 minutes proved enough, despite Santi Cazorla's late free-kick for Malaga.

Negredo could have scored even scored more but, after Sevilla crashed out of the Europa League to Hannover in midweek, his double ensured a morale-boosting success over their Andalusian rivals.

Malaga's new-found riches are likely to threaten the likes of Sevilla as regular European participants, but the hosts landed an immediate blow on the field as Negredo netted almost from the kick-off.

Jesus Navas was the architect after he tricked into space down the right and fired in an inch-perfect cross that Negredo headed in from 10 yards.

Negredo was involved in almost everything Sevilla did going forward in the first half, and he hit a perfectly-timed volley from the edge of the area that Willy Caballero dived to keep out.

Malaga offered only a sporadic threat, and when one of their summer signings, Joaquin, delivered a dangerous ball across goal, no-one could get a telling touch.

The visitors were then given a second lesson in finishing by Negredo on 26 minutes.

Diego Perotti slid a pass across the edge of the area, and Negredo gave Caballero no chance with a low shot into the bottom-right corner.

Despite their heavy summer spending, Malaga were offering little threat, and after the break Enzo Maresca headed over before Negredo took centre stage again.

This time, however, he was left holding his head in his hands as he somehow missed out on his hat trick after firing wide from six yards.

The miss looked like it might prove costly when Cazorla, signed from Villarreal for a reported 20million euros in the summer, gave Malaga a lifeline 10 minutes from the end.

The Spain international lashed in a 20-yard free-kick over the Sevilla wall and while they pushed for an equaliser they left their run too late.