Real Madrid vs. Malaga: Score and Reaction from 2015 La Liga Match

Real Madrid relinquished their hold of top spot in La Liga after drawing 0-0 against visiting Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. The away side were inspired by goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who consistently frustrated record-chasing Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.

Ronaldo was seeking a 500th goal for Los Blancos to make him the club's all-time leading goalscorer. But he couldn't turn one of his 15 shots into the net, according to ESPN's Dermot Corrigan:

Kameni's miserly brilliance kept things goalless at half-time. He didn't let up after the break even after Malaga were reduced to 10 men following Nordin Amrabat's red card for elbowing Marcelo in the face.

Los Blancos gaffer Rafa Benitez partnered Ronaldo and the in-form Karim Benzema with exciting youngster Jese in attack. Further back, Isco was the designated creative force in midfield.

Squawka tweeted Real's starting 11:

Sky Sports La Liga twitter detailed Malaga's team with Kameni expected to be a busy man:

So it proved as Madrid got at the visitors early. Seeking a quick and emphatic response to Barcelona's 2-1 win over Las Palmas earlier in the day, per BBC Sport, Los Merengues swept forward in numbers.

But they routinely found Kameni a stubborn presence. He rebuffed a pair of first-half chances from Isco. Kameni also denied Ronaldo more than once.

He turned back an effort after the Portuguese powerhouse was put through by right-back Dani Carvajal. Later in the half, the Cameroonian stopper clawed the ball off Ronaldo's toe after Karim Benzema had teed up a chance with a smart reverse pass in the box.

The half had settled into a frustrating pattern for the home side. Malaga were content keep things tight and snatch chances via deliveries into the box.

Flying Dutchman Amrabat teased in more than one tricky delivery, but Madrid just about held firm.

With the game goalless at the break, the Guardian's Sid Lowe credited Kameni's standout early showing:

Lowe's words were endorsed with Madrid's first attack after the break. Kameni dove to turn away Ronaldo's thumping half-volley after Carvajal again provided a clever cross.

Then it was Keylor Navas' turn to produce heroics between the posts. He acrobatically palmed away Recio's expertly lofted free-kick.

Navas ensured goal-shy Malaga earned an unwanted piece of La Liga history, according to Corrigan:

For a long while, it didn't matter, as Kameni continued to frustrate Real. He was cat-quick to snatch the ball and deny Luka Modric after the Croatian schemer had worked a nice one-two with Benzema.

Ronaldo continued to let chances slip as he chased the club's scoring record. The pressure of reaching that milestone looked like a mental block for the usually lethal 30-year-old.

Corrigan wondered if Ronaldo may have been pushing towards a record for most chances spurned in a single game:

Speaking of spurned chances, Amrabat scuffed a glorious opening wide after a flowing move on the edge of the Madrid box. The winger then soon saw red for lashing out.

Shortly before the dismissal, Kameni had rebuffed Benzema then almost let the tame rebound shot creep in. The controversy was due to the ball appearing to cross the line.

Corrigan noted how the lack of goal-line technology in Spain's top flight will now come back into focus:

Yet more controversy occurred when Modric saw a goal chalked off for offside. The decision looked like the wrong call.

There was still time for Ronaldo to fluff his lines again. He scooped a diving header over the bar when it seemed easier to find the net. He flicked another header wide seconds before the final whistle.

Ronaldo's frustration boiled over and earned him a booking to cap one of the more frustrating nights of his career.

Post-Match Reaction

Benitez opened his post-match press conference by referencing goal-line technology:

This was an understandable reaction to the game's two disputed incidents. But Benitez was also keen to stress how his team's finishing has to improve:

Malaga boss Javi Gracia managed to take some humour from his side's knack for frustrating La Liga's best, despite struggling against less-heralded opposition:

Gracia was particularly proud of his team's efforts once they were reduced to 10 men:

Malaga making their own chances was a theme Gracia was keen to press home. He stressed that while his team defended well, this was no cynical rearguard action:

Malaga's battling point has lifted the club out of the drop zone and into 15th place.

Meanwhile, Madrid's lack of efficiency in front of goal means Barca are back top. Benitez has to find a way to get his marquee forward line firing, otherwise he can expect to see many more wasted performances.