Not that Barcelona are looking any more solid defensively. Chory Castro drives a low cross into what Geoffrey Boycott would call the corridor of uncertainty, and Claudio Bravo spills it as Charles closes in. Barca's defence manage to clear amid the chaos.

In the meantime, a very reluctant Munir El Haddadi gets the hook, as Luis Enrique replaces the Barcelona forward with Ivan Rakitic for the final 35 minutes.

Image source, AFP

Well, isn't that incredible? Lionel Messi has been, by his own high standards, anonymous. But he's just put Barcelona back in front. It was a lovely finish too, angling his body perfectly to fashion a low close-range volley at the far post. As it stands, Barca are going top of La Liga tonight. Can Malaga come back again?

Postpublished at 50 mins

50 mins

Malaga 1-1 Barcelona

Now, I know Luis Suarez splits opinion because of the way he plays on the edge, but he really does take some punishment sometimes. The Barcelona forward gets his calf raked by the studs of Malaga centre-back Welington. It's a nasty challenge. Messi, very much in keeping with his afternoon to this point, hits the resulting free-kick into the wall. But wait a moment...

Image source, AFP

Here's a picture of Lionel Messi, just to prove he is on the pitch at La Rosaleda. He's had one chance, but it's been a testing afternoon for the new Ballon d'Or winner so far.

And we're back under way.

Barcelona did not distinguish themselves defensively in that first half, and so Luis Enrique has made a change at the back. Jeremy Mathieu, recently over a calf problem, is on for Thomas Vermaelen.

Barcelona's own Twitter account highlights that they had more of the possession in the first half. Which is true, but they weren't always quick to do much with it. Their own graphic shows that Malaga lead 9-4 on goal attempts, although it's 4-4 on shots on targets.

Image source, AFP

Atletico Madrid will be very pleased with the situation at La Rosaleda right now. If the score remains as it is, then Diego Simeone's side will stay top of the league. They host Sevilla tomorrow at 15:00 GMT.

There was a booking for Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen right at the end of that first half, by the way. He saw a yellow card for dragging down Charles, seconds after that Torres block.

Terrific first-half that. Malaga did not let their heads drop after conceding the early goal - Munir El Haddadi's first in the league this season - and deserve to be level through Juanpi. Mind you, it needed a superb block from Miguel Torres to deny Lionel Messi and ensure parity at the break.

Image source, Getty Images

How did that stay out? Lionel Messi had hardly been in the game at all for 44 minutes, and then he so nearly gives Barcelona the lead. His perfectly waited pass plays in Munir El Haddadi on the left - keeper Carlos Kameni gets down to push out the cross shot, and then it's a tap-in for Messi. But no! Left-back Miguel Torres gets across to make a sensational block.

Kameni seems to have hurt his shoulder in making the initial save, but he's back up and carrying on.

Down to the other end, and Charles has a go from about 25 yards with an ambitious effort. It's straight at Claudio Bravo, and the Barca keeper pats it down comfortably.

Now Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is on the ground, rubbing the back of his head, after being barged very clumsily from behind by Malaga's defensive midfielder Ignacio Camacho. The referee declines to award a penalty, but it wasn't the brightest piece of defensive play I've ever seen.

Postpublished at 35 mins

35 mins

Malaga 1-1 Barcelona

Ooof. It's getting a bit tasty, this game. Juanpi, the Malaga scorer, is barged into the dugout by Barcelona left-back Adriano as they chase a ball towards the touchline. Players from both sides pile into the argument, in the style of a 2am row in a taxi queue outside a nightclub. Calm down, lads. Calm down.

Barcelona have been uncertain at the back throughout, and Malaga deserve to be level. Javier Mascherano plays a dreadful pass out from the back, and the home side quickly work it back to the edge of the area, where a falling Charles knocks through a pass for Juanpi to slot past Claudio Bravo from 15 yards with the aid of a deflection - off Mascherano by the looks of it.

Ooh, another nervy moment for Barca there. Sergio Busquets gives the ball away in midfield by playing a losse ball back towards goal, and then Thomas Vermaelen stumbles backwards and tumbles over like Terry Scott falling into a duck pond during an episode of classic 1980s sitcom Terry and June. It gives Charles a run at goal - and Javier Mascherano steps across to challenge. Malaga's fans scream for a penalty, but Mascherano got the ball there. Charles is booked for diving, having gone down a little too theatrically.

Barcelona have ridden a pretty intense spell of Malaga pressure there. Luis Enrique's side have not always looked convincing, particularly at the back. Javier Mascherano has played a couple of shaky passes, for one. Barca are trying to slow the game down a bit here.