Víctor Sánchez del Amo’s team needs to turn the first leg result around (4-2) in favour of the rival. In the case of a draw, and with possible extra time with no change to the scoreboard, Málaga CF will reach the final of the play-offs due to being in a higher position in the LaLiga 1|2|3 standings.
The match will be officiated by Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos from Castilla La-Mancha, the third time he will officiate an official Málaga CF match, all this season. In the two previous games, Málaga CF drew with RC Deportivo at Riazor (1-1, matchday 8) and lost to CA Osasuna on matchday 29 held at La Rosaleda (1-2).
Players in common Málaga CF-RC Deportivo
Yosu, Alberto Luque, Juan Rodríguez, Saúl, Schürrer, Munúa, Adrián López, Luis Alberto, Rubén, Albentosa and Borja Bastón
(*) There was one Deportivo de La Coruña player, Senel, who played for Málaga B
Coaches in common Málaga CF-RC Deportivo
Víctor Sánchez del Amo
Players in common CD Málaga-RC Deportivo
Lezama, Elzo, Gamonal, Bazán, Chao, Muñiz, Carrillo, Juan, Gento II, Carlos Torres, Ruiz, Mané, Albis, Belman and Kirov
Coaches in common CD Málaga-RC Deportivo
Helenio Herrera, Iturraspe, Otxoa and Pons
(*) There are the cases of the legendary Juan Arza, a CD Málaga player in the 1942/43 season, who was coach of Deportivo de La Coruña, as well as Carlos Torres, who played for CD Málaga and was a player and coach with Deportivo
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Deportivo de La Coruña at La Rosaleda
- Paco Esteban (Málaga CF 0-2 Deportivo de La Coruña, 10/05/2003)
- Jorge Pina (Málaga CF 1-1 Deportivo de La Coruña, 06/11/2005)
- Fábio Espinho (Málaga CF 2-0 Deportivo de La Coruña, 24/10/2015)
To take into account
- Ontiveros factor. The player from Marbella has become something of a regular goal-scorer in the final stretch of the league season, accumulating 5 goals in his last 7 matches. His superb goal in the first leg of the play-offs at Riazor was certainly memorable.
- Blanco Leschuk, Málaga CF’s Argentinean striker, has been a home goal-scorer, with his 9 goals this season all being at La Rosaleda.
- Quique González, Deportivo’s highest scorer, has scored half of his 16 goals (8) away from home. He didn’t play in the first leg of the play-offs.
- Strong at home. Málaga CF ended LaLiga 1|2|3 with 12 home wins, enjoying an immaculate start with 7 out of 7 victories at home, scoring a total of 28 goals.
- In the last three home games, MCF achieved favourable results to reach the final of the promotion play-offs, including a comeback against Real Zaragoza (3-1, after conceding the 0-1). The other two, 3-0 results against Real Oviedo and Elche CF.
Stats and facts
- The first time Málaga CF will play a promotion play-off match to the First Division at La Rosaleda.
- Málaga CF and RC Deportivo have faced one another 18 times at La Rosaleda in official matches (15 in the First Division, 1 in the Second Division and 2 in the Copa del Rey). The Malaguista balance of results is 7 victories, 9 draws and 2 defeats, with 26 goals scored and 19 conceded. Of the 18 matches between these rivals, 3 of them ended in results that would be favourable for Málaga CF to reach the final of the play-offs (3-1, 2012/13 season; 4-1, 2014/15 season - Copa del Rey, and 2-0, 2015/16 season).
- In regard to matches between CD Málaga and Deportivo de La Coruña, a total of 20 official matches were played at La Rosaleda, in half of which CD Málaga obtained a favourable result that would be enough for Málaga CF to win the tie tomorrow. A highlight was the CD Málaga 8-0 RC Deportivo Second Division clash in 1981/82 (equalling CD Málaga’s biggest win in the silver division, another 8-0 against Real Murcia in 1948/49. CD Málaga won promotion to the elite during both of those seasons.
- Yesterday marked 46 years since the CD Málaga 2-0 RC Deportivo quarter-final match of the then named Copa del Generalísimo. That result, added to the 0-2 from the first leg at Riazor, put CD Málaga in the semi-finals of the cup competition for the first time, an historic feat for Málaga football.
