Malaga down Almeria to seal return to LaLiga after eight years away

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/almeria-nF2Vy2D0/malaga-25tIqYiJ/?mid=8EGZ04Di"]In Almeria, they won 2-1[/a] with goals from the two stars of the season, top scorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chupe/xGvzc36S/"]Chupe[/a] and their crown jewel, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/larrubia-david/hWytXuuP/"]David Larrubia[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leo-baptistao/dILCwx5p/"]Leo Baptistao[/a] pulled one back for the home side.[/p][p]After the 0-0 draw in the first leg, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/almeria/nF2Vy2D0/"]Almeria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malaga/25tIqYiJ/"]Malaga[/a] were playing for a place in LaLiga in a winner-takes-all match, with both Andalusian cities fully behind their teams.[/p][p][b]However, the match had to start half an hour late due to some unfortunate incidents, as Malaga's team bus was attacked with stones.[/b][/p][embed guid="d01695d1-acb2-403e-8199-ca9f91ab0023" url="https://x.com/malagahoydxt/status/2068391776998609128" social-type="twitter" /][p]On the pitch, the first big chance fell to the blue-and-whites, with an opportunity missed by Chupe, who was completely unmarked. Almeria responded with a cross from Arribas that Arribas himself just missed, and for Malaga, Chupe tried his luck again, but his shot went straight at the keeper.[/p][p]Mqlaga, who needed the win more - since a draw would mean extra time, but if no goals were scored in either period, Almeria would go up for finishing third - kept pushing for a goal. They tried with a long-range shot from Joaquin. Alfonso Herrero gave Juan Funes' side confidence by saving a shot from Miguel de la Fuente.[/p][p]The match became scrappy from that point, with many interruptions and disputes, after a frantic start, and the first half ended goalless.[/p][h2]Chupe & Larrubia take Malaga closer to glory[/h2][p]The second half began with Murillo picking up a knee injury and being replaced by Adrian Nino. Chances then came for Melamed and Joaquin, one at each end.[/p][p][b]But soon, the usual suspect found the net: Carlos Ruiz Rubio. The Cordoban put Malaga ahead after Dani Lorenzo won the ball high up the pitch and combined with Joaquin, who set up Chupe to make it 0-1.[/b][/p][p][b]Shortly after, Malaga extended their lead with a textbook counterattack finished off by David Larrubia, who unleashed a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner.[/b][/p][embed guid="eb4f9efd-6035-48bc-b593-d3028e044f96" url="https://x.com/LaLiga2/status/2068440937357881643" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Leo Baptistao gives Almeria hope[/h2][p]Almeria didn't want to let the opportunity slip away and threw everything at Alfonso Herrero's goal. The keeper from Toledo saved a shot from Lopy, but couldn't do anything moments later.[/p][p][b]Leo Baptistao received the ball in the box, controlled it with his thigh, and dribbled past the Malaga keeper to make it 2-1.[/b][/p][p]The game opened up after that, and chances came thick and fast. Fernando Nino almost made it 3-1, trying to chip Andres Fernandez. At the other end, Alfonso Herrero tipped a Leo Baptistao shot out for a corner. But Malaga wanted to seal the win and nearly did so with a shot from Aaron Ochoa that crashed against the woodwork.[/p][embed guid="864fde1c-62b7-472e-a464-0ff2f0e4f211" url="https://x.com/MalagaCF/status/2068448264333017534" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Two red cards in stoppage time[/h2][p]Almeria clung to their slim hopes of equalising and forcing extra time. 10 minutes were added, during which the home side went down to 10 men after Thalys was sent off for assaulting Montero. The numbers were evened up shortly after when Aaron Ochoa received a second yellow card.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/almeria-nF2Vy2D0/malaga-25tIqYiJ/summary/stats/?mid=8EGZ04Di"]Catch up on all the match stats here.[/a][/b][/p]