The match is being officiated by Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who has refereed Málaga CF in 6 games, all in the First Division. The results have been even for the Malaguistas, with 2 victories, 2 draws and 2 defeats.
The last time this rival visited the Blue and Whites’ stadium in LaLiga ended in a 3-1 win for MCF. It was matchday 36 of the 2015/16 season, with Málaga goals from Duje Cop (2) and Chory Castro. Morales scored for Levante.
Players in common Málaga CF-Levante UD
Jesule (*), Sandro, Brahim, Ruano, Pato, Duda, Miguel Ángel, Juanma, Geijo, Armando Lozano, Salva Ballesta, Manolo Reina, Pina, Saúl, Molinero, Carpintero, Peragón, Munúa, Caicedo, Xavi Torres, Valdo, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Javi Guerra and Samu García.
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
Players in common CD Málaga-Levante UD
Vales, Pauet, Mora, Moix, Rius, Calixto, Ocaña, Vidal, Wanderley, Catalá, Pons and Roa.
Coaches in common Málaga CF-Levante UD
Juande Ramos, Bernd Schuster and Juan Ramón Muñiz.
Coaches in common CD Málaga-Levante UD
Rogelio Santiago “Lelé” and Luis Costa.
(*) Vicente Piquer, a CD Málaga player between 1965 and 1967, was coach of Levante UD in the 1981/82 season.
To take into account
- Málaga CF and Levante UD have locked horns 8 times at La Rosaleda. 7 times in the First Division, and once in the Copa del Rey, with 7 victories and 1 draw in Málaga CF’s favour. The balance is 12 goals scored and 2 goals conceded for MCF.
- With the debut of Ian Soler in the Copa del Rey against CD Numancia, there are now 323 players who have taken part in at least one official match with MCF since 1994.
- Rosales and Adrián are on the brink of sanction, having accumulated four yellow cards so far in the competition.
The return of Muñiz
Juan Ramón López Muñiz returns to La Rosaleda. This will be the second time he’ll be on the visiting bench, following a Málaga-Racing clash (1-0) on matchday 35 of the 2008/09 season. Coach of Málaga CF during two stages (2006-2008 and 2009-2010), Muñiz achieved what is for the moment the last First Division promotion with the Blue and Whites (2007/08), combining his position of coach with sports director at the Club.
In the 2009/10 season, the Asturian returned to the Martiricos team, achieving permanency in the last League match following a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid at La Rosaleda.
He has coached Málaga CF in a total of 123 official games, achieving feats such as MCF’s best run of consecutive victories in professional football (10), reached in the CD Castellón 0-1 Málaga CF match on matchday 42 of the 2006/07 season, and CD Tenerife 1-2 Málaga CF in the 3rd round of the Copa del Rey 2007/08.
