Malaga vs Athletic Bilbao
Malaga
Athletic Bilbao
vs
Sunday 10th January 2010
Venue: La Rosaleda
Kick-off: 16:00
Score: 1 - 1
Llorente denies struggling Malaga
Malaga stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions but remain in the Primera Liga's relegation zone after a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
La Rosaleda have not been defeated since the start of November but a failure to close out victories means they are still battling the drop.
Fernando Llorente was responsible for earning Bilbao a share of the spoils, earning and scoring a late penalty after Weligton's opening goal at the start of the second half.
Fernando Forestieri attempted to get things off to a stunning start, trying to catch goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz off guard when he shot right-footed from 30 yards inside the first 30 seconds but his effort was just wide.
The hosts remained keen to assert themselves early, though, and went even closer after forcing a fourth minute corner.
Duda was the taker and his inswinging effort was met by Fernando, whose drilled effort crashed against the post and away from danger.
Bilbao attempted to fight their way back into the match, but Gaizka Toquero's wayward shot from the edge of the penalty area was the best they could muster in the opening 10 minutes.
Duda, looking lively for Malaga, drew a foul from Mikel San Jose in the 13th minute, with the latter picking up the game's first yellow card.
Despite their slow start Bilbao could have taken the lead in the 15th minute and surely would have had Javi Martinez been on target with a header from six yards.
That chance galvanised the visitors and Pablo Orbaiz took a shot at goal from a 30-yard free-kick, again missing the target.
Midway through the half it was Bilbao's turn to hit the woodwork, Toquero rattling the frame of the goal with a shot from 18 yards.
Malaga were now firmly on the back foot and were again caught out when an Orbaiz free-kick reached Llorente six yards out. Again, though, Bilbao let a fine chance go begging.
Weligton gave Malaga the lead after less than three second-half minutes, converting Duda's right wing cross with a neat header after Bilbao had failed to clear the latter's free-kick from the same flank.
The away side attempted to test Gustavo Munua from range as they looked for a response but efforts from Martinez and Markel Susaeta soon after the goal were tame.
The home defence also dealt well with a period of sustained pressure just after the hour mark, successfully defending a series of corners and a free-kick.
Their resistance finally broke with 11 minutes remaining, Ivan Gonzalez penalised for a foul on Llorente, who stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty.
Both sides could have won it in the final minute as the game reached a tense finale.
First Iraizoz tipped over the crossbar when Edinho's header seemed destined for the net and then, with seconds left, Iker Muniain shot from point-blank range only to find Duarte Jesus Gamez on hand to block.
