The Malaguistas, with 33 points and in 20th place in the table, face this rival with 53 points and in 6th place promotion playoff positions.
The match will be officiated by David Gálvez Rascón. The 41-year-old from Madrid is in his third season in the Second Division. He has refereed 60 matches in the silver division, ending in 19 local wins, 24 draws and 17 visitor wins. This will be the third time he will officiate MCF this season, following Huesca-Málaga on matchday 5 (1-0) and Málaga-Granada on matchday 19 (1-1). Heading up the VAR is Daniel Ocón Arraiz from La Rioja.
Players in common Málaga CF-FC Cartagena
Sergio Magano*, Domínguez, Kiko Ramírez, Sabino, Josemi, Alberto Aguilar, Manolo Reina, Armando, Alcalá, Carpintero, Jordi Pablo, Manu Torres, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Keko, Harper, Mejías, Calero, Kiko Olivas, Sadiku, Álex Gallar, Rubén Castro and Delmás
(*) Atlético Malagueño player -first team-
(**) Former Malagueño goalkeeper, Aarón Escandell, is part of the current FC Cartagena squad
(***) Shinji Okazaki, ex FC Cartagena player, belonged to MCF in the summer of 2019
(****) Reserve team players Abel Valenzuela, Gonzales Vigil, Roberto Camacho, Gato, Poley, Óscar Sielva, Kuki Zalazar and Clavería also played for Cartagena
Coaches in common Málaga CF-FC Cartagena
None
(*) Gustavo Munúa, former Málaga CF goalkeeper, was coach of FC Cartagena
Match info
- Following his goal last weekend, Rubén Castro – tied with Nino – is the historic ‘pichichi’ of the Second Division with 194 goals. In turn, with 710 matches between the First and Second Division, he is already the player with the most games played in history, within the two categories.
- Luis Muñoz, Javi Jiménez and Loren Zúñiga are the Malaguistas on the verge of suspension on a cycle of four yellow cards.
- Rubén Castro, with nine goals, is the top Blue and White scorer in the League. Former Malaguista Sadiku and Ortuño, both with eight goals, are the rival’s top scorers.
- At home in the League, Málaga CF have accumulated five wins, seven draws and five defeats (22 points), scoring 16 goals and conceding 16.
- Cartagena, the third best away team in the division, have a balance of seven victories, five draws and five defeats (26 points), scoring 23 goals and conceding 17 away from home.
Stats and facts
- The third time MCF and FC Cartagena will play an official match at La Rosaleda. The first time, in the 20/21 season, Málaga CF lost by 1-2. Last season, 21/22, the result was a 1-1 draw, with Brandon scoring for the Malaguistas.
- In their previous names as Club Deportivo Málaga and Cartagena Fútbol Club, in the Second Division and at La Rosaleda, there were four precedents, ending in three Malaguista victories (2-1 in 61/62, 3-0 in 86/87 and 4-0 in 87/88) and a victory for Cartagena (1-3 in 85/86).
- CD Malacitano and Cartagena Club de Fútbol met on the Costa del Sol in the Second Division in 40/41 (0-1). Against the same rival under the name of CD Málaga, also in Segunda 'A', there were another two clashes in Málaga, resulting in victory for the visitors in 41/42 (1-3) and a clear win for the locals in 51/52 (8-2).
- In the last seven seasons played in the silver division, on matchday 36, MCF obtained four victories and three defeats. In the 21/22 season, it was a 0-3 win in Leganés with goals from Vadillo, Antoñín and Sekou Gassama.
