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 10th 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 29th 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 42nd 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 57th 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 65th minute, bringing on Aaron Ochoa for Carlos Dotor.
In the 69th 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 83rd 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 91st 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 7th place. Vamos, Málaga!