Málaga secured a victory over SD Huesca at La Rosaleda on league matchday 30. Larrubia, Niño from a penalty, Joaquín, and Chupe, who scored a stoppage-time brace, were the Malaguista scorers.
There was an excellent atmosphere in the stands (27,214 spectators) on a lovely afternoon, perfect for football. On the pitch, Funes made two changes from the previous match against Real Valladolid: Puga came in for the suspended Víctor in defence, and Niño replaced Chupe at the tip of the attack.
David Larrubia made an early impact in the 2nd minute with a sharp, angled free-kick. Joaquín, highly motivated against his former team, tested Dani Jiménez with a powerful shot in the 5th minute. Málaga came out storming against a Huesca side focused on defensive duties.
In the 19th minute, a long-range shot from Larrubia was saved by Jiménez. By the half-hour mark, Huesca took the lead with a penalty converted by former Atlético Malagueño player Óscar Sielva (0-1, 30’). Funes’ side remained unfazed and continued with their game plan.
Joaquín, causing constant problems, set up Larrubia for the equaliser, and the striker didn’t miss with his left foot (1-1, 38’), marking his ninth goal of the season. Just before half-time, Málaga completed a rapid turnaround with a penalty on Niño that, after VAR review, was awarded by the referee and converted by the forward himself (2-1, 47’), his seventh league goal of the campaign.
In the second half, former Malaguista Portillo tried to reduce the deficit with a shot that went over the bar. Joaquín, of course, came close to scoring with a strike that hit the post in the 54th minute. Immediately afterward, the player from Miraflores calmly and skilfully finished in the opponent’s box to score Málaga’s third goal (3-1, 55’).
The Blue and White fans were singing, enjoying themselves, and constantly pushing their team toward another home victory. They also cheered their players, such as during Funes’ first substitution: goal-scorer Niño was replaced by top scorer Chupe (69’). Two minutes later, Málaga’s number 9 fired a powerful shot, but Jiménez tipped it over for a corner.
In the 74th minute, Málaga made a double change: Rafita and Joaquín were replaced by Dani Sánchez and Dorrio. The Basque winger, in the 81st minute, delivered a perfect assist for Chupe’s fourth, but Jiménez caught the shot. Huesca, with Sielva in charge, tried to reduce the deficit through corners and free-kicks near Herrero’s goal.
By the 86th minute, Funes had used all his substitutions: Gabilondo and Rafa came on for Puga and Dotor. Just before the 90th, Pulido scored for SD Huesca, initially ruled out for offside but confirmed after a VAR review (3-2, 89’).
The momentum still belonged to Málaga’s top scorer. Chupe, at the start of stoppage time, blasted the ball past the visiting goalkeeper, sending La Rosaleda into a frenzy (4-2, 93’), marking his 13th goal of the season. And without pause, Carrillo scored for Huesca (4-3, 95’). Before the final whistle, Málaga struck again: a lethal counterattack from Larrubia set up Chupe, who expertly beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one to seal the win (5-3, 99’). Fourteen goals and the second consecutive brace for the ‘pichichi’, capping off a spectacular and thrilling match.
Málaga reach 51 points in the LALIGA HYPERMOTION table, provisionally 4th in a promotion playoff spot, with a +4 advantage over the seventh-placed team. Vamos, Málaga!