Malaga's forwards have their defence to thank for giving them a chance to redeem themselves against Porto and for keeping alive their Champions League quarterfinal hopes.
.
Competition debutants Malaga have been one of the surprise teams this season, their attractive brand of possession football winning widespread praise, but they ran into a wall in Porto and lost Tuesday's last-16 first leg 1-0.
.
Double European Cup winners Porto starved the visitors of the ball and Joao Moutinho scored the only goal, albeit from an offside position, to give the Portuguese side a narrow advantage for the second leg on March 13.
.
"We played one of our worst games of the season in attack," Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini told a post- match news conference, after his side failed to register a shot on target.
.
"But taking into account how the game progressed, with all the possession they had, Porto didn't do us too much damage.
.
"We hope that in a more normal game, where we see more of the ball, we will turn this around."
.
Malaga, who are fourth in La Liga, have the Spanish league's tightest defence and, in Willy Caballero, one of the most in-form goalkeepers.
.
However, it is in midfield and up front that Malaga have usually caught the eye, with the ball-playing talents of Spanish under-21 international Isco standing out.
.
Freeing the playmaker from the straightjacket Porto managed to keep him in on Tuesday will be key to their hopes of overturning the result in the second leg.
.
"Considering what happened, the best thing about the game was the result," Isco told reporters.
.
"At 1-0 I think we are capable of turning the tie around at the Rosaleda.
.
"They played a very tough game, very tactical, and they barely let us breathe. They didn't give us a minute to play our football. We couldn't find the space, but 90 minutes are very long and we can turn this round."