Málaga End 105-Day Away Drought with Stunning Second-Half Comeback
Funes' men overcame a dire first half to record their first away win since August, breaking a century-old curse on the road with a thrilling three-goal turnaround.
Málaga CF finally shook off their away day hoodoo with a remarkable second-half transformation against Albacete, securing their first victory on the road since August.
Tale of Two Halves
Blimey, what a difference 15 minutes in the changing room can make! The first half was proper dog’s dinner stuff from the Blanquiazules:
- Nearly 300 passes completed
- Not a single shot on target
- Tactical possession with zero penetration
But whatever Funes said during the break worked absolute wonders. His troops returned looking like a completely different side, needing less than 150 passes to bang in three goals and complete an unlikely comeback.
Breaking the Curse
This victory ends a painful 105-day winless streak away from La Rosaleda. Their last success on their travels came back on August 31st under Pellicer, when Rafa Rodríguez’s solitary goal was enough to defeat Las Palmas.
Rather spookily, this drought mirrors a similar barren run from last season when Málaga couldn’t buy an away win until the final match of the first half of the campaign. That victory came at El Molinón - which, by pure coincidence, happens to be their next away destination.
Method in the Madness
Despite the stark contrast between halves, Funes insisted post-match that the patient first-half approach was all part of the masterplan: “We wanted continuity with the ball which exposes opponents. Persisting with that idea when losing isn’t easy.”
Injury Updates
In more positive news for Málaga fans, Juanpe has begun his recovery process from a quadriceps injury. He returned to light training on Monday, working individually with physical readaptation coach José Antonio Lizana.
The squad trained together following their return from La Mancha, though players who started against Albacete reduced their workload toward the end of the session. Brasanac, Dorrio, Ramón, Luismi and Pastor continue their rehabilitation in the gym.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s Andalusian derby against UD Almería, with the squad given Tuesday off to recover.