Before this matchday got underway, the Blue and Whites (45 points) and Albacete (44 points) occupied 15th and 18th place in the standings. The match will be broadcast by Movistar LaLiga.
Sunday’s clash will be officiated by Iñaki Bikandi Garrido from the Basque Country, who has refereed Málaga CF in nine official games; seven in the First Division and two in the Second Division, the latter two last season (2018/19). The results with Bikandi as ref are four victories, two draws and three defeats for the Malaguistas. Oliver de la Fuente Ramos from Castilla y León will be in charge of the VAR.
Players in common Málaga CF-Albacete Balompié
Ángelo*, Basti*, Emilio, José González, Axier, Calandria, Salva Ballesta, José Juan Luque, Antonio Hidalgo, Antonio López, Pina, Carpintero, Jon Erice, Edu Ramos, Sergio Sánchez, Héctor Hernández, Keko and Cifuentes
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
Coaches in common Málaga CF-Albacete Balompié
José González
Players in common CD Málaga-Albacete Balompié
Camoto, Lezama, Juanele, Parra, Antonio Merino, Jon García, Fonseca, Da Silva, Chesa and Padilla
Coaches in common CD Málaga-Albacete Balompié
None
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Albacete Balompié at La Rosaleda
- Gascón (Málaga CF 0-3 Albacete Balompié, 11/02/2007)
- Iván Rosado (Málaga CF 0-3 Albacete Balompié, 11/02/2007)
To take into account
- Tete Morente, Mikel, Diego González and injured Pacheco, with four yellow cards, are the Malaguista players on the verge of suspension.
- Sadiku, with 13 goals, is the top Malaguista scorer. The Albanian has had 33 shots at goal (39.3% effectiveness in shots/goals) during the competition. Dani Ojeda with six goals, is Albacete Balompié’s highest scorer.
- Munir is the Malaguista who has played the most matches (34), and the only one to surpass 3,000 minutes in LaLiga SmartBank (3,060). In addition, he is the goalkeeper who has conceded the fewest goals in the category, 27 in 34 games. The one and only precedent in the division featured Gallardo, in the 86/87 season, in the ranks of CD Málaga, leader of the ‘Zamora’ at the time of his death, and in turn he received an honorary award.
- At home, Málaga CF have obtained six wins, eight draws and four defeats (26 points), scoring 22 goals and conceding 18.
- Away from home, Albacete Balompié have accumulated seven victories, three draws and eight defeats (24 points) with 16 goals scored and 22 conceded.
- Should he play, Juankar will his reach his 100th official match with Málaga CF.
Stats and facts
- The fifth time Málaga CF will play Albacete Balompié in a Second Division match at La Rosaleda. Up to now, the Malaguista results are two victories, one draw and one defeat. In addition, there have been two First Division clashes, ending in a draw and a loss for the Malaguistas. In terms of goals, MCF scored a total of six and conceded nine.
- In the previous four seasons in the Second Division, on matchday 38, Málaga CF obtained two victories (1-2 against CD Tenerife and 3-0 against Real Oviedo), one draw (0-0 against CD Numancia) and one defeat (4-6 against Hércules de Alicante CF).
- Málaga CF claimed its first promotion to the First Division with a 3-2 win against Albacete Balompié on matchday 39 of the Second Division in the 1998/99 season.
