The Blue and Whites, 8th in the table with 41 points, are facing the Basque Country-based rival, in 6th place with 51 points. In the first round League match held at San Mamés, the result was a 0-0 draw. The last League clash at Martiricos between these rivals was the 1st match of the 2014/15 season, resulting in a Malaguista victory by 1-0, with a goal from Cádiz-born Luis Alberto.
Players in common Málaga CF-Athletic Club
None
Players in common CD Málaga-Athletic Club
Aroma, Bilbao, Garay, Deusto, Uriarte, Burgueña, Martín and Txirri
To take into account
- Weligton, if he plays, will reach his 250th match with MCF in League competition. ‘El Mariscal’ has accumulated 249 games so far (211 in the First Division and 38 in the Second).
- During 15 seasons in the First Division, Málaga CF has scored a total of 698 goals in 564 matches (1’24 per match)
- Since 1999, both clubs have faced each other 31 times in official matches (League and Cup), with absolutely equal results: 10 victories, 11 draws and 10 defeats for each team, out of 29 League and 2 Copa del Rey matches.
- If Málaga CF defeats Athletic this weekend, and Sporting and Getafe lose their games, the Club will mathematically secure another year in the elite, extending the record to nine consecutive seasons.
- Notable absences. On behalf of the Blue and Whites, Rosales, who has played 32 complete LaLiga games this season, will miss out due to suspension. Aduriz, the rival’s highest goal-scorer in the League with 17 goals, is out through injury.
Historical curiosities
- Manuel López “Travieso”, who was an international with Spain, played for Athletic Club, and was a player-coach with FC Malagueño.
- In the 1935/36 season, goalkeeper, Ramos García played for CD Malacitano, having come from Athletic Club.
- Various Athletic players made their debut at La Rosaleda over the years, some of whom include: Iríbar, Uriarte, Lasa, Núñez, Madariaga, Tiko, Aitor Ocio, Balenziaga, Iturraspe and Ekiza.
Deusto, a Bilbao-born Malaguista international and Zamora Trophy winner
Juan Antonio Deusto Olagorta, born in Bilbao (08/01/1946), was a CD Málaga player between 1970 and 1975. He began his career in Athletic Club’s youth ranks, and joined the reserve team, Bilbao Athletic’s first team in 1964. His first match in the First Division was an Athletic Club-Valencia CF (1-0) clash which took place on 19/09/1965.
In 1968/69, Deusto win the Copa del Generalísimo title. Having not played many minutes with Athletic, being a substitute of ‘Chopo’ Iríbar, he moved to CD Málaga in 1970. He was the first goalkeeper for the five seasons he was at Martiricos, debuting with CD Málaga in the 1st match of 1970/71 against Real Zaragoza (0-0) at La Romareda.
In the 1971/72 season, Deusto won the Zamora Trophy with CD Málaga, conceding 23 goals in 30 matches, the only Malaguista goalkeeper to do so up to now. He made his debut with Spain on 24/11/1973 in the RFA 2-1 Spain match, held in Stuttgart.
Following CD Málaga’s relegation to the Second Division in 1975, he was transferred to Hércules, where he remained until 1980 when he retired. Between Athletic Club, CD Málaga and Hércules CF, he played a total of 223 First Division games, conceding 222 goals, an average of less than one goal per game. Deusto was the goalkeeper who defended the CD Málaga shirt the most in the First Division (143). He passed away on 21st July 2011 aged 65.