Santi Cazorla and Joaquin Sanchez each scored twice to give Malaga a 4-0 win over Granada on Monday for their first victory in La Liga after their spending spree.
Malaga cashed in on their 60 million euros (US$85 million) overhaul as they completely outclassed newly-promoted Granada at La Rosaleda.
Cazorla led the way throughout, looking eager to prove he is worth the almost 20 million euros Malaga paid for him.
The former Villarreal playmaker was quick to take advantage of the passive Granada defense in the fourth minute when he rifled a low left-footer inside the near post from the edge of the area.
Granada, playing just their second top flight game in 35 years, left Joaquin unmarked in the 25th minute to head in Jesus Gamez’s well-placed cross.
Three minutes into the second half, Cazorla anticipated the defense’s attempt to block his free-kick by slotting it under the wall for Malaga’s third goal.
The Spain midfielder then found fellow new signing Joaquin alone in the area to finish off a counterattack in the 72nd minute and cap Malaga’s win in their opening home game.
“It is important that our fans had a good time after all the rising expectations from the summer,” Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS