MADRID, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Spanish side Malaga defeated AC Milan 1-0 in the Rosaleda Stadium to take a massive step towards the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Joaquin Sanchez scored the only goal of the game to ensure his side has nine points from three games and have a perfect record in the competiton.
The game was probably the most important in the history of Malaga and the Rosaleda Stadium was consequently packed to the rafters.
The first half perhaps didn't live up to such expectation , but the first half hour was surprisingly flat as both side showed each other excessive respect. Milan had the best chance as El Shaarway wasted a great chance then through on Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Malaga on the other hand were perhaps missing the pace of Eliseu in attack after the continued back problems of Nacho Monreal obliged him to continue playing as left back.
Icso had a good chance for Malaga five minutes later, but fired wide following a pass from Joaquin Sanchez, who wasted the best chance of the half on the stroke of halftime.
The referee was perhaps slightly harsh in giving a the home side a penalty for a possible push on Malaga full back Jesus Gamez, but Joaquin smashed his penalty against the bar.
It was his second miss in two matches after his failure from the penalty spot against Valladolid on Saturday afternoon.
The second half saw Malaga take more control of the game and after several half chances Joaquin repeated his feat of the weekend by putting his side in front, the winger took advantage of a fine pass from Manuel Iturra and his shot went in off the post.
Milan looked to react and Malaga were forced back for a while, although defenders Martin Demichelis and Weligton remained solid at the heart of the home defense and it was not until the closing moments that Malaga keeper Willy Caballero was called into action to save from El Shaarway, just before Philip Mexes sent a header just wide of the Malaga post four minutes from time.
That was virtually the end of the home fans' suffering and their side now looks almost certain to reach the last 16 in the most important football competition in Europe.