Malaga head coach Juan Funes has openly criticised the officiating following his side’s 4-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the third round of La Liga.
The newly promoted club were beaten at Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid established a commanding lead before half-time. Three of the home side’s four goals arrived by the 30-minute mark, leaving Malaga with a substantial deficit to overcome during the remainder of the match.
Funes addressed the refereeing after the game, although no direct quotation from the Malaga manager was provided. His comments focused on the decisions made during a difficult evening for the visitors in Madrid.
The result leaves Malaga at the foot of the La Liga table after three matches. They have collected one point and have scored once while conceding seven goals, giving them a goal difference of 1:7.
For Real Madrid, the result underlined the gulf between the reigning Spanish power and a Malaga side adjusting to life in the top flight. Malaga’s early defensive problems at Santiago Bernabeu proved costly, with the hosts scoring three times inside the opening 30 minutes.
Despite the defeat, Funes’ team will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they return home in the next round. Malaga are scheduled to host Levante, another important fixture for a side seeking its first league win of the campaign.
Malaga’s poor start has left them needing points quickly. One point from their opening three games means the club remain at the bottom of the standings, while the 4-0 loss to Real Madrid also widened the gap between goals scored and goals conceded.
The match at Santiago Bernabeu was the third-round meeting between the two clubs in this La Liga campaign. Real Madrid took advantage of their strong start, scoring three times before the half-hour mark and adding a fourth goal to complete the victory.
Malaga will now turn their attention to the home game against Levante, where they will attempt to improve both their league position and their scoring record. Funes will hope his side can produce a different performance after conceding four goals against Real Madrid and failing to find the net.
