There was a great atmosphere in the stands and the best home attendance of the season (27,286 spectators), with a strong contingent of traveling Ceuta fans, on this sunny Sunday afternoon. Funes returned to his classic 1-4-3-3 formation, bringing Dani Lorenzo and Joaquín into the starting-11 in place of Aaron Ochoa and Niño.

In the very first minute, Málaga had their first chance with a corner, followed by a bicycle-kick attempt by David Larrubia that went high. Immediately after, from another corner, Ceuta scored thanks to a header from former Malaguista Kuki Zalazar (0-1, 3’).

Larrubia tried again from the edge of the area with a shot that Vallejo saved in the 10^th minute. Neither the team nor the fans seemed affected by the early setback and kept pushing for an equaliser. In minute 20, Ceuta’s goalkeeper intervened effectively to stop a dangerous shot from Larrubia. Chupe, in the 29^th minute, once again tested a solid Vallejo, who also blocked a long-range effort from Izan Merino in 30’.

In the closing stages of the first half, one name dominated the match: Chupe. In the 42^nd minute, he won a clear penalty, which he calmly converted (1-1, 43’), and three minutes later, in stoppage time, he scored a stunning goal after exquisite control and finish, sending the crowd into a frenzy (2-1, 45’+1). This brings the striker’s tally to nine goals in the league and marks his fourth consecutive match scoring. Chupe, a streaking ‘pichichi’ for Málaga.

At the start of the second half, with a narrow lead on the scoreboard, Málaga CF didn’t change their game plan one bit. Meanwhile, AD Ceuta tried to push forward and get closer to Alfonso Herrero’s goal.

Chupe missed a chance in the 57^th minute from a pass by Dani Lorenzo, who had recovered the ball near the edge of the Ceuta area. Funes made his first substitution in the 65^th minute, bringing on Aaron Ochoa for Carlos Dotor.

In the 69^th minute, Chupe won the second penalty of the afternoon, but this time Vallejo guessed the Córdoba striker’s intention and denied him a third goal. Then, in minute 78, Málaga made a double substitution: Niño and Rafa came on for Joaquín and Dani Lorenzo. From the resulting corner, Puga had a chance to make it 3-1, his shot narrowly hitting the right post.

Chupe, assisted by Larrubia after a counter led by the number 10, almost scored again in the 83^rd minute with a shot that brushed the left post. Two minutes later, the final substitutions by Funes were met with a standing ovation: Larrubia and brace-scorer Chupe were replaced by Lobete and Haitam.

In the 91^st minute, Adrián Niño forced another save from Vallejo with a powerful shot. Once the added time was over, Martiricos erupted in celebration at the 2-1 final score. It’s the team’s fourth consecutive victory and the end of the first half of the season with 32 points, sitting provisionally in 7^th place. Vamos, Málaga!