Malaga advances to CL groups

BERNE - Reuters

Malaga overcomes its ownership woes to reach a new high in club history.

Malaga overcame its internal worries to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time after drawing 0-0 at Panathinaikos in the second leg of the two teams’ playoff tie on Aug. 28. 

The Spanish side, facing uncertainty behind the scenes amid speculation that their Qatari owner is looking to sell up, won 2-0 on aggregate to ensure a place in today’s draw in Monaco. 

Malaga has seen Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla and Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon depart for Arsenal and Rubin Kazan respectively in what the Andalusian club has described as a process of “internal restructuring.”

Malaga comfortably held on in a game of few scoring chances.

The Spanish side was joined in the group stage by BATE Borisov and Dinamo Zagreb, who both qualified for the second year running, as well as last-gasp Anderlecht. Dieudonne Mbokani and Oleksandr Yakovenko scored in the last 10 minutes to give the Belgian champions a 2-0 win over AEL Limassol.

Udinese missed out on the Champions League for the second season running, losing on penalties to Braga in the playoffs.