1951-1952 season
CD Málaga ‘returned’ to the Second Division in the 51-52 season after playing the first two seasons in the First Division. Curiously, the team of the divine Ricardo Zamora ended the league with 29 points, 15 more than CD Alcoyano that marked one of the direct relegation positions; and 11 away from the league champions, Atlético de Madrid. As such, the team took part in a promotion league with another five teams, failing to finish in the top two, which according to the team granted salvation or promotion.
Under the presidency of José Luis Estrada Segalerva (who combined his role with that of the Mayor of Málaga) and with Antonio Barrios Seoane as the new coach in the dugout, the Blue and Whites set the goal of returning to the elite, an objective they would go on to achieve after winning their first Second Division championship title and with that, their second promotion to the top flight.
The majority of the team from the previous season remained along with various signings such as Méndez and Mora. In addition, during this season the first players from Atlético Malagueño moved up (León Lasa and Galacho).
CD Málaga’s start in the silver division couldn’t have gone better. The Blue and Whites didn’t suffer defeat in the first 12 league games, although they drew in half of them. On matchday 13 they lost to UD Salamanca at El Calvario stadium and, after beating Hércules de Alicante (3-1) on matchday 14, took pole position in the standings, a position the team never left again.
On matchday 18 Málaga faced UD Melilla. This was the third time they met in the league following two clashes in the Third Division (44-45 and 45-46 seasons when CD Málaga won by 0-5 and 1-3. However, the first match between these rivals in the Second Division would go down in Malaguista history.
The 'Resurrection’ in Melilla and the Bazán cannon
On 13th January 1952 Málaga came up against UD Melilla at the North African Álvarez Claro stadium. The Martiricos outfit, category leaders, faced the team in third place. With expectations so high for this game, hundreds of Malaguista fans travelled to Melilla on the J. J. Sister boat, nicknamed 'Barco Botijo' for the occasion.
Refereeing this match was Daniel María Zariquiegui Izco from Navarra, who for many years would be the one to have officiated the most First Division clashes. Within a stadium full to bursting and under heavy rain, Antonio Barrios selected the following starting line-up: Bellido, León Lasa, Rubio, Arnau, Méndez, Rodríguez, Gutiérrez, Loli, Becerril, Bazán and Azcue.
In minute 14 Melilla took the lead with a goal from Cueto. Six minutes later, Malaguista goalkeeper Bellido sustained injury, with Montserrat taking his place. This was the debut of the player from Tortosa with the Malaguistas and the only match he played with CD Málaga. Uruguayan, Rodríguez netted the Malaguista equaliser in 27’, but Melilla went on to score three goals in the subsequent 13 minutes (Martínez in 31’ and 35’, and Damián in 40’). Melilla’s dominance was overwhelming and at half-time the scoreboard showed 4-1.
Funnily enough, due to the result at half-time and the bad weather, a number of Malaguista fans left the stadium and made their way to the port, and therefore didn’t witness the Malaguista feat.
After play resumed, the scoreboard didn’t alter, and in 65’ still said 4-1. A local victory seemed increasingly probable. Azcue, with a cross shot, scored the second Malaguista goal (4-2, 66’) and from then on, it was time for the best goal-scorer in CD Málaga’s history to shine: Pedro Bazán.
Within a 15-minute interval, between 70’ and 85’, the forward from La Algaba scored a hattrick, taking the final score to 4-5. Despite the meteorological and scoring adversities, the team from La Rosaleda achieved the biggest comeback in its history.
Happy ending to the season
After this match, Málaga remained at the top of the table and only CD Mestalla, Valencia CF’s reserve team, was a rival for this position. The team only suffered two defeats in the last five league games, one of which was against the rival from Valencia (1-0) on matchday 27, putting direct promotion in danger for CD Málaga. By the last match of the season the two teams were tied on 40 points, but the Malaguistas were the leaders having defeated Mestalla (2-0) in the first round.
On league matchday 30, on 13th April 1952 (68 years ago tomorrow), as CD Málaga defeated Granada CF (5-1) at La Rosaleda with a stellar performance from Bazán who scored a hattrick, and together with the 3-1 defeat for CD Mestalla against Atlético Baleares at Son Canals, the Blue and Whites achieved their second promotion to the First Division. Curiously, the two highest scorers of the category were Malaguistas Bazán (25 goals) and Rodríguez (22 goals).
