18,885. This is the number of Malaguistas who cheered on their team during the 23/24 season debut at La Rosaleda. The Martiricos atmosphere saw the fans fully behind the team from the outset.
Pellicer's men stepped on to the pitch determined to take an early lead on the scoreboard. With intensity and fluidity, the Blue and Whites appeared in the vicinity of the rival goal on numerous occasions with great danger. In the 7th minute, Dioni generated two steals in the heart of the area, but his final shot failed to find the goal.
Just two minutes later, in a dizzying counterattack, MCF managed to go in front. David Larrubia entered from the right wing and with his left foot provided an exquisite assist to Roberto. The striker saw it, prepared himself and slammed the ball into the back of the net in the 9th minute of play (1-0).
The Malaguistas remained insistent in their search for the rival goal, but on a counterattack, taking advantage of a rebound from Herrero, visitor Diego Bri went level in minute 33. At half-time the scoreboard was 1-1.
The tone of the match didn’t alter too much in the second half, with the locals insisting on the attack. Dani came close to scoring in the 68th minute. He finished with effort from the penalty spot, but his shot collided with a teammate and skimmed the crossbar.
Very active between the lines, with the fans on tenterhooks, the Blue and Whites tried again and again to overcome the rival’s ironclad defence. And they succeeded. In stoppage time, when the game looked as though it would end all square, a header from Einar made it 2-1. The centre-back finished off a header from a corner and the ball found the goal (90+).
With the referee's final three whistles, the three points went to the Blue and Whites.
