Malaga 3, Leicester 3, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, Pre-Season Friendly

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Leicester fielded a solid starting line-up in this game, featuring Alex McCarthy in goal. Jayden Joseph, Ben Nelson, Caleb Okoli, and Luke Thomas in defense. Sammy Braybrooke, Oliver Skipp and Louis Page in midfield. Stephy Mavididi, Kirsten Otchere and Will Alves up front.

Leicester came out in high press and took advantage from start. Malaga, newly promoted to Primera, had all types of problems to adjust. Leicester were solid and compact in every area.

The midfield was impressive, with Sammy Braybrooke playing well, making elegant passes and movements similar to the legendary midfielder Tony Currie, who dominated in English football many decades ago. Louis Page also agile and on the run, being backed up by Oliver Skipp, playing in the holding role.

It was Louis Page that opened the scoring for Leicester, with a nice touch straight from the corner. He curled the ball in the far corner. Leicester earlier had attempts to score. Alex McCarthy also had to get into action saving nicely and again having a steady game in goal.

Later in the first half Will Alves should have scored, being played fantastically through from Sammy Braybrooke. Braybrooke showed skills today that will be valuable going forward. He is a clever footballer, hopefully getting a chance to establish himself in this Leicester team.

Leicester played well in the first half, but struggled from start in the second half. Malaga made several substitutions, while Leicester only replaced McCarthy with Stolarczyk, who quickly came into action and made a good save.

It finishes 3-3 against Málaga 🤝#MALLEI | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/dQmsedH711
— Leicester City (@LCFC) July 25, 2026

Leicester faced intense pressure from Malaga and struggled to maintain their high press. In the 53rd minute, Malaga scored with a relatively close-range shot that Jacub Stolarczyk should have saved, as it wasn’t a difficult shot to stop.

There were tough and hot conditions that likely boosted the fresh Malaga team from the start, while Leicester had kept all their starting outfield players on the pitch. Russell Martin made more changes at the 60th minute. Bringing on Conor Chaplin, Harry Souttar, Hamza Choudhury, Woyo Coulibaly and Bobby De Cordova-Reid. This did not result in any immediate effect. Leicester conceded again in the 68th minute. A 1-0 lead and suddenly turned to 1-2.

Conor Chaplin made some positive impact. He will be valuable, but still uncertain what type of role he will play. Despite his early positive contribution, Malaga’s domination continued. It was not before Russell Martin decided to make new substitutions that Leicester again took advantage. Tommy Neale, Olabade Aluko and Riley Carr made huge impact, especially the England U17 international, Neale, showed greatness.

Neale brings great energy and creates space for teammates. This was crucial when Woyo Coulibaly in the 80th minute scored from close range, leveling the score to 2-2. Then eight minutes later we all thought Leicester had knicked it, Neale the goalscorer with a well placed shot down in the left side corner.

Jacub Stolarczyk made a critical mistake by trying to play tiki-taka in his own penalty area instead of clearing the ball to the opponents’ half in the final minutes. Malaga took advantage of this, seized the ball, and scored right before the game ended. This was tragic as it reflects poor decision-making and a lack of understanding of how to win football games, and how a goalkeeper decision making in the final minutes of a game can inflict a result. This was so evident last season, doing silly mistakes, where you should make everything simple.

3-3 was not a bad result against a Primera opponent, showing that this looks like a project of success, travelling home to face Genoa in the last pre-season test, before Northampton comes visiting for that Carabao Cup clash on the 8th of August.

Positives

1st half performance very positive
Sammy Braybrooke putting on a splended performance, a great player in the making
Louis Page making art with a special corner kick leading to a 1-0 lead
Coming back to take a 3-2 lead
Scoring three goals
Great performance from Tommy Neale, showing his worth coming on, scoring and contributing
Good contribution also from Will Alves, who could have killed the game
Woyo Coulibaly scoring from a splended shot, nicely assisted by Lorenz Hutchinson
A solid performance from Alex McCarthy doing some good saves
Jacub Stolarczyk also showing his shot stopping skills

Negatives

Jacub Stolarczyk not understanding his job and how to secure a result in the final minutes of a game
Playing tiki-taka in defence, not using the long ball enough to stretch the Malaga team more
Football is a game to use different tools, not getting trapped in situations that will put you under pressure
Letting in three goals

Line Up:
McCarthy 8, Joseph 6, Nelson 6, Okoli 6, Thomas 5, Braybrooke 8, Page 7, Skipp 6, Otchere 5, Mavididi 6, Alves 6, Subs: Stolarczyk 6, Aluko, Hutchinson, Souttar, Faes, Carr, Neale, De Cordova-Reid, Chaplin, Coulibaly, Choudhury