Real Madrid Denied Top Spot in La Liga After Draw Against Malaga
Carlos Kameni of Malaga put on an inspired display as he denied Real Madrid a chance to go on top of the La Liga.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: September 27, 2015 01:18 pm IST
Real Madrid failed to move back to the top of the table as they were denied by an inspired display from Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. (Latest Football News)
"Football has these type of things. You dominate a large part of the game, create loads of chances, but if you aren't clinical you end up drawing 0-0," said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.
"I think we created enough chances to score and take the three points." Cristiano Ronaldo had an early goal ruled out for offside before Kameni got down well to twice turn efforts from Jese Rodriguez behind.
Real Madrid launched wave upon wave of attack towards the Malaga goal, but were repelled by Kameni as he made an incredible save to deny a fiercely struck volley from Ronaldo as his wait to become the club's all-time leading scorer continued.
Malaga also had their chances to win the game, though, as Keylor Navas produced a stunning save from Juan Carlos's free-kick, whilst Nordin Amrabat fired wide with just Navas to beat.
Captain Weligton deflected a goalbound header from Ronaldo wide and cleared off the line when Isco had squeezed a shot past Kameni.
However, Madrid claimed the ball had crossed the line before the Brazilian hooked the ball to safety and there was another controversial call seconds later as Amrabat was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Marcelo.
Ronaldo had one final chance to snatch all three points at the death, but his header from point-blank range flew over as the hosts were left frustrated.
© AFP
Both Madrid sides head into next weekend's derby with disappointing results as Atletico failed to respond to Baptistao's well-worked goal 13 minutes in.
Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa were denied by fine saves by Alphonse Areola late on in either half, but Villarreal were deserving winners as they moved ahead of Barcelona by a point at the top of the table.
At the other end of the table, Sevilla moved off the bottom with their first league win of the season thanks to Yevhen Konoplyanka's winner six minutes from time to overcome Rayo Vallecano 3-2.
Benitez was left frustrated as his team threw away the chance to move back to the top of La Liga. Real Madrid had 31 shots on goal at the Santiago Bernabeu, but couldn't find a way past an inspired Carlos Kameni in the Malaga goal to fall a point behind Barcelona in the title race.
"When the opposition goalkeeper is the man-of-the-match it means you have at least done your job attacking and created so many chances he has had to be intervene a lot," said Benitez.
Madrid now have dropped four points in their opening six league games due to two scoreless draws after opening their campaign with a stalemate at Sporting Gijon.
And Benitez believes they have to stay calm as the clock ticks down against tiring legs in the future.
"I think during most of the match we attacked well from the wings and through the middle. Perhaps in the last five minutes we lacked the calm to keep moving the ball," he added.
"We are still at the start of the season and to create so much is very positive. We have to work on preventing the counter-attacks they had and maintaining our calm in the final minutes.
"Obviously it isn't something we like but when you look at the two games and the number of shots on goal and chances we've had, the only thing you can do is take your chances and keep our head in the last five minutes."
Real Madrid did appear to have the ball over the line at one point as Isco's effort was cleared from behind the goal line by Malaga defender Weligton.
Unlike in the Premier League, there is no use of goal line technology in La Liga and Benitez called for its introduction.
"I haven't seen the replay. The goal line technology that they use in other leagues can always help the referee."