Four-star Malaga beat Granada

Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by teamtalk.com

Four-star Malaga beat Granada
Cazorla: Netted brace on home debut

Big-spending Malaga got their La Liga campaign up and running with a convincing 4-0 home victory over promoted Granada on Monday evening.

Big things are expected of Malaga following their heavy summer investment but they suffered a disappointing start to the season when they lost 2-1 at local rivals Sevilla.

However, Manuel Pellegrini's men bounced back in style on Monday night with a one-sided win against another Andalusian side.

Spain international Santi Cazorla, who cost a reported 20million euros from Villarreal, netted at the start of either half to make it three goals in two games for the playmaker, while former Spain and Valencia winger Joaquin Sanchez added further goals midway through each period.

The victory lifts Malaga up to eighth place on three points while Granada drop to the foot of the table, having lost at home to Real Betis in what was their first Primera Division match since the 1975/76 season

Malaga needed just four minutes to go ahead at La Rosaleda, Cazorla picking up a cross from Sergio Duda before finding the bottom corner of Roberto Fernandez's goal.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cazorla then had efforts to increase Malaga's lead before Joaquin made it 2-0 in the 25th minute, turning in Jesus Gamez's cross.

Malaga were dominating and Van Nistelrooy had a shot tipped over by Fernandez and Joaquin also tested the visiting custodian before Cazorla made it 3-0 in the 46th minute direct from a 25-yard free-kick.

Malaga completed the scoring in the 73rd minute when Cazorla turned provider to set Joaquin up for his second of the night.

Granada threatened to pull a goal back in the closing stages, with Franco Jara seeing a shot pushed around the post by Willy Caballero, Yohann Mollo curling an effort over and Ikechukwu Uche firing wide, but Malaga ran out convincing winners in the end.