Barcelona may be winning all the plaudits for their style this season, but on Sunday they face the team that should be praised for having defied all the critics...
Kick Off: 19:00 CET - Sunday, March 22, 2009 - Camp Nou, Barcelona
All the talk at Barcelona has been about the Champions League draw and whether they can beat Bayern Munich, but before that there is the small matter of playing the team of the season.
The Blaugrana may be playing the most attractive football in the Primera Division, and be on course to win one or more trophies, but they are certainly not causing as many surprises as Antonio Tapia's side.
Malaga won promotion from la Segunda A at the end of last term and many predicted that they would make an immediate return after one year among the big boys.
Instead, the Andalucian outfit have quietly set about their task after constructing a useful squad that had few pundits predicting that they would produce the results they have.
The difference between success and failure is often far wider in the top flight, but that does not detract from the fact Malaga are currently chasing a European place.
With only three more wins that Osasuna, who are currently third from bottom, Tapia's team lie in sixth place and could, incredibly, go third if they were to pull of the shock result of the season.
Euro Hopefuls
In the build-up in Malaga, the players and coach all spoke about no game being impossible to win, while many are just relishing the prospect of playing in Camp Nou.
The reality of defeating Barça away maybe one step too far, especially given that the result when the teams met in La Rosaleda earlier this campaign was a resounding 4-1 victory for the Catalan side.
But Malaga will remain in or around the UEFA Cup places, and for that they deserve great credit, with the players and those behind-the-scenes all sharing the limelight.
It was not that long ago that the club werer in dire financial straits and could have dropped into third tier as they hovered just above the second division drop zone.
Former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz, and his father and former Madrid president Lorenzo, took control and began to turn things around; and the mere fact that they will be watching their team walk out against Barcelona is a huge achievement.
The media may have spent the majority of the build-up talking about Bayern Munich, but Pep Guardiola will make his players well aware that playing and beating Malaga is their first priority.
RECENT FORM
Barcelona
15/03 A 2-0 Almeria
11/03 H 5-2 Olympique Lyonnais
07/03 H 2-0 Athletic Club
04/03 A 1-1 Real Mallorca
01/03 A 3-4 Atletico de Madrid
24/02 A 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Malaga
15/03 H 2-2 Sevilla
08/03 A 2-1 Getafe
01/03 H 0-2 Recreativo
22/02 A 3-1 Real Valladolid
14/02 A 1-1 Valencia
08/02 H 3-2 Almeria
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Carles Puyol is still out of action, as is Gaby Milito, so Pep Guardiola is likely to partner Gerard Pique in the middle with Rafa Marquez once again. On the left it will be a choice between Sylvinho and Martin Caceres and in the middle the only certainty is Xavi Hernandez.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes, Alves, Sylvinho, Marquez, Pique, Toure, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi, Eto'o
Malaga
Duda and Albert Luque have both been given the green light to make the trip to Barcelona by club doctors, while Nabil Baha will undergo a late fitness test before it is decided if he can play. Jose Juan Luque is in the squad after missing training this week with a hamstring strain.
Probable Starting XI: Goitia, Gamez, Rosario, Weligton, Apono, Duda, Eliseu, A. Luque, Nacho, Salva
PREDICTION
Malaga may be in an impressive position in the league, but Barcelona's form is back to its best and they have just enjoyed their first week off since the turn of the year. That rest should invigorate Pep Guardiola's squad before the majority jet off to join their national squads.
Barcelona 4 - 1 Malaga
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
Kick Off: 19:00 CET - Sunday, March 22, 2009 - Camp Nou, Barcelona
All the talk at Barcelona has been about the Champions League draw and whether they can beat Bayern Munich, but before that there is the small matter of playing the team of the season.
The Blaugrana may be playing the most attractive football in the Primera Division, and be on course to win one or more trophies, but they are certainly not causing as many surprises as Antonio Tapia's side.
Malaga won promotion from la Segunda A at the end of last term and many predicted that they would make an immediate return after one year among the big boys.
Instead, the Andalucian outfit have quietly set about their task after constructing a useful squad that had few pundits predicting that they would produce the results they have.
The difference between success and failure is often far wider in the top flight, but that does not detract from the fact Malaga are currently chasing a European place.
With only three more wins that Osasuna, who are currently third from bottom, Tapia's team lie in sixth place and could, incredibly, go third if they were to pull of the shock result of the season.
Euro Hopefuls
In the build-up in Malaga, the players and coach all spoke about no game being impossible to win, while many are just relishing the prospect of playing in Camp Nou.
The reality of defeating Barça away maybe one step too far, especially given that the result when the teams met in La Rosaleda earlier this campaign was a resounding 4-1 victory for the Catalan side.
But Malaga will remain in or around the UEFA Cup places, and for that they deserve great credit, with the players and those behind-the-scenes all sharing the limelight.
It was not that long ago that the club werer in dire financial straits and could have dropped into third tier as they hovered just above the second division drop zone.
Former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz, and his father and former Madrid president Lorenzo, took control and began to turn things around; and the mere fact that they will be watching their team walk out against Barcelona is a huge achievement.
The media may have spent the majority of the build-up talking about Bayern Munich, but Pep Guardiola will make his players well aware that playing and beating Malaga is their first priority.
RECENT FORM
Barcelona
15/03 A 2-0 Almeria
11/03 H 5-2 Olympique Lyonnais
07/03 H 2-0 Athletic Club
04/03 A 1-1 Real Mallorca
01/03 A 3-4 Atletico de Madrid
24/02 A 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Malaga
15/03 H 2-2 Sevilla
08/03 A 2-1 Getafe
01/03 H 0-2 Recreativo
22/02 A 3-1 Real Valladolid
14/02 A 1-1 Valencia
08/02 H 3-2 Almeria
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Carles Puyol is still out of action, as is Gaby Milito, so Pep Guardiola is likely to partner Gerard Pique in the middle with Rafa Marquez once again. On the left it will be a choice between Sylvinho and Martin Caceres and in the middle the only certainty is Xavi Hernandez.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes, Alves, Sylvinho, Marquez, Pique, Toure, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi, Eto'o
Malaga
Duda and Albert Luque have both been given the green light to make the trip to Barcelona by club doctors, while Nabil Baha will undergo a late fitness test before it is decided if he can play. Jose Juan Luque is in the squad after missing training this week with a hamstring strain.
Probable Starting XI: Goitia, Gamez, Rosario, Weligton, Apono, Duda, Eliseu, A. Luque, Nacho, Salva
PREDICTION
Malaga may be in an impressive position in the league, but Barcelona's form is back to its best and they have just enjoyed their first week off since the turn of the year. That rest should invigorate Pep Guardiola's squad before the majority jet off to join their national squads.
Barcelona 4 - 1 Malaga
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
