Barcelona's 100% start to their La Liga campaign came to an end on Wednesday night as they were held to a goalless draw by Malaga.
Luis Enrique's lacked the cutting edge they've shown so far this season, and it was Malaga who looked the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock for long spells.
Despite spells of pressure from both sides, there would be no late twist as the points were shared at La Rosaleda.
Read below to find out how Malaga ended Barcelona's impressive run.
Good evening everyone. Barcelona are back in action tonight as they look for a fifth successive La Liga victory against Malaga. We'll have regular live updates as the league leaders look to hold onto their advantage.
MALAGA: Kameni; Rosales,S.Sánchez, Weligton, M.Torres; S.Castillejo, Camacho, S.Darder, Juanpi; Duda, Amrabat
BARCELONA: Bravo, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Pedro, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, Bartra, Douglas, Jordi Alba
Malaga have started the season strongly, and are yet to concede a goal at home this season. However, they face their biggest challenge tonight. Barcelona have won all four of their games without conceding, and are looking to keep their spot at the top of La Liga tonight.
Luis Enrique has handed a first start to Douglas tonight, while Marc Bartra and Gerard Pique also return in defence. Pedro, Neymar and Lionel Messi lead the attack for the visitors. Kickoff is moments away.
KICKOFF: Malaga get the game started at La Rosaleda. There's great noise coming from the home supporters already.
Malaga start strongly as they win an early corner, but it comes to nothing for the hosts. Five changes from Javi Gracia tonight, with Roque Santa Cruz one player who has been left on the bench.
Pedro gets an embarrassing moment in early. The back heel to Neymar is on inside the box, but the little Spaniard gets his legs in a tangle before falling to the ground.
It's no surprise to see Alba and Douglas deployed further up the pitch early on. Barcelona are starting to dominate possession now as Malaga look to reduce the space on offer to the visitors.
Crucial header from Sanchez as he heads the ball away from Neymar at the back post following an inviting cross into the box from Rakitic.
SHOT! Bravo forced into action early on, but it's a pretty routine save for the Barcelona goalkeeper as he keeps hold of Amrabat's low effort.
It hasn't taken long for Barcelona to find their passing rhythm. The chances haven't arrived yet, but Rakitic and Iniesta are dictating the tempo already from midfield.
Rakitic is forced to bring down Amrabat, who has looked lively in the early stages for the hosts. Malaga are doing well to apply the pressure at the right times. It's been said already this season, but the pitch is awful at La Rosaleda. It won't help Barcelona, that's for sure.
Silly from Camacho, who needlessly trips Rakitic on the edge of the box. We all know who wants to take this free kick.
Messi does step up to take the free kick, but his effort drifts just over the crossbar. Malaga won't want to give the Argentine too many chances to improve on that strike.
Nice move from Barcelona as they move the ball quickly from right to left, before Alba's inviting cross is diverted well wide of the target by the outstretched leg of Pedro. Barely a half-chance for the forward.
Duda is the only man in the box when Amrabat battles his way into some space on the right. The delivery is good, but Duda has little chance of connecting. Darder then fires wide of the target from 25 yards moments later.
It's a worrying moment for Barcelona when Alba is caught on the knee by Rosales, but it looks like he will be fine to continue sprinting down the left wing.
The pattern is beginning to become very familiar. Barcelona are, as expected, dominating possession in midfield, but they're yet to create an opportunity. In truth, Malaga have defended very well so far and look a threat when the ball is knocked to Amrabat.
Messi finally breaks free of the shackles to pick out Neymar on the edge of the box. The Brazilian does well to find his own space, but the through ball to Pedro is too strong.
CHANCE! Alba is gifted space on the left wing, and he uses it to curl an early cross into the box. Messi has no choice but to attempt to score with his chest. The ball drifts just wide of the target, much to the relief of the Malaga defence. That would have been a special goal.
Malaga win the ball in midfield, and show their intentions by attempting to launch a quick counter-attack. The ball is worked to Torres on the left, but his cross is delivered too close to Bravo, who collects easily.
Really poor tackle from Wellington as he dives in on Pedro after the Barcelona forward had attempted to deliver a cross. That really should have been a yellow card.
Messi's free kick from the right wing is curled into a dangerous area, but Kameni's positioning is perfect as he collects to relieve the pressure.
Surprisingly for a match including Barcelona, we haven't really seen enough quality in the final third of the pitch in this game. Malaga are battling impressively, but need to make sure they do not overstep the mark. Playing against Barcelona with defenders on yellow cards is a tricky test.
There's been a few signs in the past few minutes that Barcelona are starting to get frustrated. This was never going to be an easy game for the leaders. They'll have to produce a different type of performance tonight if they are to collect all three points. Malaga are defending superbly at the moment.
More of the same from Barcelona as they keep the ball for another extended spell. The key for the visitors will be getting Rakitic and Iniesta closer to the front three. At the moment, they are only having an impact from deeper positions.
It's been an incredibly disciplined performance from Malaga so far. The midfield is doing a superb job of making sure none of the defenders are being forced to come to the ball. Barcelona's frustration continues as both Neymar and Messi see shots blocked.
CLOSE! Much better from Barcelona as Pedro releases Alba, whose powerful delivery across the six-yard box misses the toe of Messi by a matter of inches.
It looks like a training exercise at the moment. Barcelona are probing away, looking for openings, while Malaga stick to their stubborn defensive shape and only press the ball when it's necessary. Enrique's side will have to be patient.
HALF TIME: MALAGA 0-0 BARCELONA
It's not been the most eventful 45 minutes of football, but Malaga's supporters will be absolutely delighted with their side. The hosts have probably come closest to scoring with a couple of half-chances as Barcelona have been left to struggle in the final third of the pitch. It's been superb from a defensive point of view for Malaga.
Enrique will surely be appealing for patience as he speaks to his players at the interval. Barcelona have the quality to break down the hosts, but it's just not clicked for them yet. The likes of Sandro Ramirez, Munir El Haddadi and Xavi are on the bench.
Javi Gracia will want to see more of the same from Malaga. He knows a draw is great result for his side, and they do have the potential to hit Barcelona on the break if they get the opportunity after the break.
I don't think Enrique will be too pleased with the pitch at La Rosaleda. The ground has been cutting up far too easily, and it's certainly having an impact on the pace of the match. It's another factor which makes the trip to Malaga so difficult.
No changes yet from either manager. The players are back out on the pitch, and Barcelona will get the game back underway.
Busquets does what he does best for Barcelona as he breaks up a Malaga attack before it can really get started. Good energy on show once again from Malaga.
Malaga waste a good opportunity to cause problems for Barcelona when Duda fails to reach any of his teammates in the box with a free kick from a dangerous position. The hosts must take advantage of those chances.
It's Malaga who have started the second half the stronger of the two sides. Anywhere will do for Barcelona at the moment as Douglas and Bartra are both forced to clear the ball under pressure.
Barcelona just haven't got started early in the second half. Messi is being left on his own further up the pitch, and they're struggling to get him involved at the moment. Malaga need to back up this good spell.
Malaga are pressing further up the pitch in the second half, and Barcelona aren't responding to the challenge. The hosts have been first to everything since the interval. Amrabat, in particular, is putting in a great shift in attack.
Better from Barcelona as they increase the tempo of their passing, but the frustration continues as Alba watches his excellent cross evade all of his teammates inside the box.
Patient build-up play almost brings a chance for the visitors as Rosales fails to stay in line with his fellow defenders, which invites pressure from Neymar. Unfortunately for Barcelona, the Brazilian is unable to divert Rakitic's cross towards goal.
CHANCE! Bartra loses his marker inside the box to meet Messi's corner, but the defender can only head wide of the target from a good position. That's the closest Barcelona have come to breaking the deadlock.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Enrique decides it's time to turn to a couple of younger players as Munir and Sandro come off the bench to replace Pedro and Neymar.
Barcelona are settling down once again, but they're still well short of their fluent best. It's not quite desperate stuff yet. However, Malaga will certainly be the happier of the two sides with 25 minutes remaining.
SUBSTITUTION: Duda's night is over as he comes off to make way for Luis Alberto.
CHANCE! Juanpi does brilliantly in the box to find a yard of space before pulling the ball back for Rosales, who only just misses the bottom corner with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Could Malaga steal a winner?
YELLOW CARD! Poor from Douglas as he allows Alberto to get past him before chopping down the forward on loan from Liverpool. It's a deserved booking for the Brazilian.
SAVE! Malaga come even closer to breaking the deadlock. Luis Albert unleashes a superb free kick towards the near post to force Bravo into an awkward save, with the ball hitting the post before bouncing to safety.
YELLOW CARD! Rosales is the next player to receive a booking as the Malaga full-back trips Sandro when the Barcelona youngster threatens to break into the danger zone. Adriano then comes off the bench to replace Douglas.
The free kick which follows the foul on Sandro is only cleared to the edge of the box by Malaga, but Iniesta is unable to keep a speculative half-volley from drifting over the crossbar.
It's up to these 11 players to continue Barcelona's winning record. Malaga are not just clinging on, though, and have threatened to break the deadlock on more than one occasion. 15 minutes plus stoppage time remaining in the match.
Malaga survive an extended spell of pressure from Barcelona as Pique is penalised for a foul on Sanchez inside the box. Gracia uses a change to replace Castillejo with Juanmi.
This is probably the famous last words, but it really has been incredible to see Messi do so little for Barcelona tonight. The Argentine has barely been involved since the break, largely due to the brilliant defending on show from the hosts.
Good move from Barcelona, but they fail to find a breakthrough. Messi leads the attack, before shifting the pass to Sandro. The teenager quickly returns the favour, but Sanchez comes out to block a powerful effort from Rakitic.
YELLOW CARDS! Drama late on at La Rosaleda as Weligton stupidly grabs Messi by the face. The Argentine doesn't really need to go to ground, but that probably should have been a red card. Instead, Weligton and Pique are both booked for the scuffle which followed the incident.
SUBSTITUTION: One final change for Malaga as Juanpi is replaced by Recio for the final few minutes.
Amrabat and Luis Albert link superbly on the edge of the box, but the former loses control just as he was threatening to fire a shot at goal. Will there be a late twist?
There's no sign of Barcelona's frustration coming to an end. They've lacked quality in the final third of the pitch. It hasn't been good enough from the visitors. Two strong defences look on the way to clean sheets.
The fourth official confirms that there will be three minutes added on. Barcelona will be desperate for one clear chance.
Amrabat threatens to create an opportunity for himself, but a flag confirms that he was offside from the long ball sent forward. Malaga's supporters are loving every moment.
Neither side are able to keep the pressure on as possession changes hands on a number of occasions. Just a few seconds remaining in the game.
FULL TIME: MALAGA 0-0 BARCELONA
It's all over at La Rosaleda. Barcelona fail to win for the first time this season, but all of the credit must go to Malaga. The hosts full deserve the point, and it was Gracia's side who looked more likely to claim the win. Despite their frustration, Barcelona remain top of La Liga.
That's all from me tonight. Hopefully you've enjoyed the coverage. There will be analysis and reaction on the way from the match. Goodnight.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
