Málaga CF earned a point after a goalless draw against Levante at La Rosaleda, a result defined by a missed penalty in the early minutes. According to Mundo Deportivo's match report, striker Chupete failed from the spot in the seventh minute, a chance that could have changed the course of the match played on September 6.
Why can't Málaga secure a home win?
Juanfran Funes's team has now played two home matches since their return to the top flight without securing a victory. Marca highlighted that the blanquiazul side has scored only one goal in the first four matchdays, precisely from the penalty spot. A lack of sharpness has become a clear issue, with an attack that needs greater efficiency to ensure survival. Their next home challenge is against Athletic Club on November 29, a fixture already listed on the fixtures calendar.
What happened with Chupete's penalty?
Chupete missed a decisive penalty in the seventh minute, after a handball by Nacho Pérez inside the box. The Cordoba-born forward chose a central shot that goalkeeper Ryan managed to save, according to Mundo Deportivo's minute-by-minute narration. In the immediate follow-up, an own goal by Mandi was disallowed for a prior foul, denying a quick chance to overcome the mistake. This episode adds to a complicated start to the season for the striker, who, according to Marca, was also involved in a tense bench incident during last week's match at the Bernabéu.
How was the team's overall performance?
Málaga showed 63% possession dominance according to statistics published by Mundo Deportivo, but failed to translate it into clear chances beyond the penalty. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero was key to keeping a clean sheet, making a spectacular save from a Nacho Pérez shot in the second half. The team started sluggishly and only found attacking dynamism after winger Larrubia's involvement, data that can be cross-referenced with individual analysis on stats. The defence, meanwhile, looked solid and allowed just three shots on target from the visitors.
What is Málaga's historical record at the Bernabéu?
In their previous visit to the capital's stadium, Málaga CF suffered a 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid on August 30. Reuters reported that goals from Bellingham, an own goal by Herrero, Mbappé and Guler sealed the result. Managing Madrid provided a historical fact: the Andalusian club has never won at the Bernabéu in 42 visits, including those of the former Club Deportivo. Their last point there came in 2015 with a goalless draw, a streak that reflects the difficulty of fixtures in the capital, as seen in the broader context of the standings.
The team now has time to work before their next league commitment, with the full squad focused on improving their offensive output moving forward.
