Malaga hand Fabrice CL start

Teenager Fabrice Olinga is a surprise starter in attack for Malaga as they welcome Panathinaikos to La Rosaleda for the Champions League play-off.

Fabrice scored the only goal at the weekend to secure an opening day League win for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and has seemingly done enough for a starting berth in tonight’s crucial first leg tie.

Malaga and their Greek opponents are playing over two legs for a place in the Champions League proper, which will bring in a guaranteed €8.6m minimum for participation, as well as fees of €1m and €500,000 for every win and draw achieved in the competition respectively.

Should Malaga qualify, it would be their first time in UEFA’s premier competition.

Fabrice will be flanked in attack by Joaquin Sanchez, Isco and Eliseu, whilst Enzo Maresca comes into midfield as Sebastian Fernandez, Portillo and Ignacio Camacho make way from the weekend.

Starting line-ups

Malaga: Caballero; Gamez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal; Toulalan, Maresca; Joaquin, Isco, Eliseu; Fabrice

Panathinaikos: Karnezis; Spyropoulos, Velazquez, Boumsong, Vyntra; Vitolo, Zeca, Sissoko, Katsouranis, Mavrias; Fornaroli

Tags Fabrice Olinga Panathinaikos
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