The Malaguistas, 21^st in the standings with nine points, face this rival in 8^th place with 19 points.

Refereeing on Sunday is Adrián Cordero Vega. The 38-year-old from Cantabria returned to the Second Division this season following four seasons in the elite. He won the Guruceta Cup in the silver division in 16/17, and has accumulated 72 games in LaLiga SmartBank ending in 36 local wins, 15 draws and 21 away wins. The VAR will be headed up by Eduardo Prieto Iglesias from Navarra.

Players in common Málaga CF-SD Eibar

Axier, Raúl Albentosa, Charles, Keko, Adrián, Borja Bastón, Recio, Blanco Leschuk, Iván Alejo, Yanis Rahmani, Lombán, Vadillo, Fran Sol and Esteban Burgos

(*) A former Atlético Malagueño player, Óscar Sielva, was part of SD Eibar

Coaches in common Málaga CF-SD Eibar

None

Players who debuted with Málaga CF against SD Eibar at La Rosaleda

• Lekovic (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Brahim (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Zárate (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• De los Santos (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Ruano (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Catanha (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Ismael (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Agostinho (Málaga CF 2-1 SD Eibar, 30/08/1998)
• Roberto (Málaga CF 0-1 SD Eibar, 21/08/2017)
• Baysse (Málaga CF 0-1 SD Eibar, 21/08/2017)
• Diego González (Málaga CF 0-1 SD Eibar, 21/08/2017)
• Adrián González (Málaga CF 0-1 SD Eibar, 21/08/2017)
• Borja Bastón (Málaga CF 0-1 SD Eibar, 21/08/2017)

Match info

• This game could see the possible Malaguista debut of the team’s latest signing, African left-back, Lumor Agbenyenu.
• Manolo Reina is the only Blue and White player who has played all minutes (1,080) of all league games to date, and is currently on four yellow cards.
• Rubén Castro, with three goals, is the highest Malaguista scorer in the League competition. Stoichkov, with five goals, is the rival’s top scorer.
• At home in LaLiga SmartBank, Málaga CF have accumulated one victory, two draws and two defeats (five points), scoring five goals and conceding nine.
• Away from home, in six games, Eibar have obtained one win, two draws and three defeats (five points), scoring five goals and conceding nine.

Stats and facts

• This is the fourth time Málaga CF and SD Eibar will play each other in the Second Division at La Rosaleda. Two of the previous games ended in victory for our boys. The 2-1 win (local goals by Brahim and Zárate) in the season opener of the historic 98/99 campaign, and 1-0 (goal from Baha) in the equally memorable 07/08 season. Last season, the rival won by 1-3 with a brace from the now Malaguista, Fran Sol.
• There have also been precedents in the First Division and Copa del Rey between MCF and Eibar at Martiricos. In the elite, the Malaguistas claimed two victories, one draw and one defeat in four games. In the Cup tournament, the Blue and Whites won 4-1 in the return leg round of 16 game in the 12/13 season.
• In the past seven seasons MCF have played in the silver division, on matchday 13, the lads accumulated three victories, one draw and three defeats.