Barcelona drop points

Barcelona drop points

Malaga

Kameni; Rosales, Sergio Sanchez, Weligton, Torres;
Camacho, Darder; Castillejo, Duda, Juanpi, Amrabat.

Barça

Bravo; Douglas, Piqué , Bartra,
Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Neymar.

For the fifth game of the season, Barcelona travelled to Malaga as the two sides fired blanks and shared spoils.

The game saw, none of the sides dominating each other. With Barca happy to keep and play with the ball and Malaga happy to play on the counter, the game was as dull as any compared to Barca's recent demolition of Levante. Luis Enrique made three changes to side, with Neymar and Rakitic fit and Puiqe, Bartra and Douglas coming in. Brazilian right back who was replacing his counter part was handed his first official start in Barca colours.

Malaga played a compact side as they prepared themselves to sit back and absorb the wave of attacks from Barca and hit them on the counter.

As the first half commenced, there where no clear cut opportunities created by either side. Malaga played a narrow 4-2-3-1. With front three off Neymar, Messi and Pedro coming in deep to pick the ball up, Barca full backs didn't do enough to take tge attacking onus on them. Douglas the new boy, crossed just thrice in 73 mins. 

Which meant all the attacks came from the left hand side started by Alba. First cross came from Alba with Pedro making the contact with the header going wide, the second one which was met by Messi's chest went off traget too. If the first half was dull, the second was even worse. With Douglas struggling in defense and no real attacking opportunities being created, Samper and Munir were introduced for Neymar and Pedro. But even the La Masians failed to create any impact, with Leo Messi having an off day. Malaga came close through former Barca B graduate, Luis Alberto who was brought down by Douglas. 

As he lined up a free kick which dipped was ultimately stopped by Barvo. It was the closest to what either of the side came to scoring. As the whistle was blown, Barca where still first on table but on same points with, Sevilla who are also on 13 points with Valencia have the chance to make it to 13 points as they take on Cordoba.