“I haven’t sent any message to the fan base; I respect Málaga because it’s the city I’m from, but if I score, why can’t I celebrate it?” forward Bryan Zaragoza told MARCA after Espanyol’s 1–1 draw at La Rosaleda.
Bryan Zaragoza emerged as the central figure of Espanyol’s visit to Málaga on Sunday, scoring a first-half opener before enduring a hostile reception from the home crowd that included offensive chants and a continuous barrage of whistles, MARCA reported. The fixture, marking LaLiga’s return to La Rosaleda in Málaga, Spain, saw the winger put the visiting Catalan side ahead with an individual effort in the opening 45 minutes before Málaga salvaged a 1–1 draw in the final moments of the match.
How Bryan Zaragoza Sparked Tension at La Rosaleda
The flashpoint occurred midway through the first half when Zaragoza received the ball on the wing, squared up defenders Carlos Puga and Calero, beat both with a sharp individual move, and fired past goalkeeper Herrero to make it 0–1 for Espanyol. Following the strike, the Málaga-born attacker cupped his ear toward the stands in Martiricos, igniting a fierce reaction from the home supporters.
The animosity between Zaragoza and the Málaga faithful stems from his youth career. The winger never entered Málaga CF’s academy, having instead spent time at CD Tiro Pichón and CD Conejito de Málaga before unsuccessful trials with Málaga, Real Betis, and Real Valladolid. Granada ultimately signed the attacker, launching his path to the professional tier.
Tension boiled over further when Zaragoza clashed with Carlos Puga, resulting in a brief confrontation and a yellow card for each player from the referee. A section of the La Rosaleda crowd responded to the incidents with the chant, “Bryan, die.” Zaragoza reacted by continuing to gesture toward the stands, prompting loud jeers every time he touched the ball until Espanyol manager hauled him off in the 73rd minute.
What the Espanyol Winger Said After the Match
Defending his actions to reporters, Zaragoza insisted he harbored no malice toward his hometown club despite the hostile atmosphere he faced on the pitch.
“I have affection and respect for Málaga, but I’ve never played here, and it’s been a while since I scored, so if I score, I’m going to celebrate it,” Zaragoza said. “Everyone has to understand me. I’m not sending any message to the fan base. I haven’t done anything wrong. I just scored a goal and celebrated it. I didn’t make any gesture to the stands.”
The forward acknowledged that his path through local youth ranks left lingering friction, adding that he could have represented the club if scouts had signed him earlier. “I could have played for Málaga, but they never wanted me,” he said. “They made a mistake. I found the goal, felt happy, and celebrated it. I dedicated the goal to my son and my wife, and if it upset anyone, I apologize. I don’t want anyone to feel offended.”
How the Standings and Late Drama Shaped the Result
Málaga’s late equalizer left the Espanyol squad frustrated after controlling significant spells of the match. Zaragoza reflected on the dressing room’s mood after the final whistle, pointing to missed opportunities in the opening period.
“We’re fucked, very fucked,” Zaragoza said regarding the team’s reaction to conceding in stoppage time. “I think they played well. The draw is a more or less fair result, but in the first part we had several chances to win. We leave with a very bad taste in our mouths because the goal came practically in the last play.”
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