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Magical Málaga make it a debut to remember
Málaga CF began the night as UEFA Champions League new boys and ended it looking like competition veterans thanks to an exhilarating defeat of FC Zenit St Petersburg.
Not only were the hosts powered to victory thanks to a sparkling pair of goals from 20-year-old Isco – the first within three minutes – Javier Saviola also chipped in with his second in three days to make it a debut to remember for Manuel Pellegrini's men. The Spanish side therefore take the early initiative in Group C while Zenit must look to regroup against seven-time champions AC Milan on matchday two.
Match in 5
- Málaga have five unanswered goals in three games
- Saviola scores fourth career goal against Zenit
- Zenit's winless run in Spain stretches to five games
- Camacho runs 11.75km (team average 9.43km)
- Hulk hits bar after two-goal Isco's first for hosts
Reaction
I'm very happy. We won a difficult game against a great team. The defence did a great job tonight. We have shown that we can do great things in the UEFA Champions League.
Javier Saviola, Málaga forward
The first 20 minutes were just awful – I still do not know what happened. We made huge mistakes. Perhaps we are not fully ready to play in the UEFA Champions League yet.
Luciano Spalletti, Zenit coach
Lineups
 | Málaga |  | Zenit |
| 13 | Caballero (GK) | 16 | Malafeev (GK) (C) |
| 2 | Gámez | 2 | Anyukov |
| 3 | Weligton (C) | 3 | Bruno Alves |
| 5 | Demichelis 15 | 6 | Lombaerts |
| 6 | Camacho | 11 | Kerzhakov |
| 7 | Joaquín 85 | 15 | Shirokov86 |
| 9 | Saviola 133162 | 18 | Zyryanov75 |
| 15 | Monreal | 20 | Fayzulin |
| 18 | Eliseu | 24 | Luković40 |
| 22 | Isco376 | 27 | Denisov |
| 27 | Portillo46 | 29 | Hulk90 |
Substitutes | |||
| 1 | Kameni (GK) | 30 | Zhevnov (GK) |
| 16 | Iturra46 | 9 | Bukharov |
| 17 | Duda85 | 34 | Bystrov40 |
| 20 | Buonanotte | 50 | Cheminava |
| 21 | Sergio Sánchez | 77 | Djordjević75 |
| 24 | Santa Cruz62 | 82 | Lumb86 |
| 26 | Juanmi | 99 | Kanunnikov |
Coaches | |||
| Manuel Pellegrini (CHI) | Luciano Spalletti (ITA) | ||
Referee | |||
| Mark Clattenburg (ENG) | |||
Standings
Group C
| P | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Málaga | 1 | 3 |
| 2 |  Anderlecht | 1 | 1 |
| 2 |  Milan | 1 | 1 |
| 4 |  Zenit | 1 | 0 |
Legend:
- P: Played
- Pts: Points
Match statistics
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Minute By Minute
- 90Hulk (Zenit) is booked.
Hulk is cautioned for simulation. - 86Lumb (in) - Shirokov (out) (Zenit)
- 85Duda (in) - Joaquín (out) (Málaga)
- 76Isco (Málaga) scores!
Joaquín and Isco carve through the Zenit defence again and the former sets up the latter for a thunderous drive that nearly bursts the net and gives the young Spaniard his second goal of the game.
Málaga secure their first-ever UEFA Champions League win in style then with a comprehensive victory against Zenit. The visitors spurned clear chances but the Spanish side, inspired by Isco who scored twice, Javier Saviola who scored the other and winger Joaquín, were dominant and well-deserving of the three points. Málaga will now travel to Anderlecht in Belgium for matchday two in high spirits while Zenit must raise themselves for the visit to St Petersburg of AC Milan.