Malaga 0 : 0 Barcelona - Below par Barca held at Malaga

Posted Thursday, September 25, 2014 by PA

Barcelona's 100 per cent winning start to their Primera Division campaign ended after a goalless draw at Malaga.

Luis Enrique, in his first season at the helm at the Nou Camp, had led his side to four successive victories with 11 goals in the process.

However, at La Rosaleda, they were lucky to escape with a point and failed to register a shot on target.

The home side have made an unspectacular start to the season, although their only win did come against Athletic Bilbao - who finished fourth last season.

With just three goals to their name all season, visiting stopper Claudio Bravo could have been forgiven for expecting an easy time.

However the Chilean was one of the standout players for Barca, who left Xavi and Javier Mascherano on the bench.

Malaga had the game's first chance after seven minutes but Nordin Amrabat's effort from just inside the area was held by Bravo.

Sergi Darder missed the target after 18 minutes before Barca and Lionel Messi started to get going.

The Argentinian, who is usually so lethal inside the box, missed the target from 12 yards out before Neymar had an effort blocked by Sergio Sanchez just before the break.

The game belonged to Malaga after the break and Bravo was called into action after 69 minutes.

Douglas fouled Luis Alberto and from the resulting free kick Alberto curled a delightful effort which looked destined for the top corner before Bravo tipped it behind as Barca escaped with a point.