Match preview: #MálagaLevante

The Blue and Whites, in 20^th place in the standings with 26 points, welcome this rival in 3^rd place with 55 points, in LaLiga Santander promotion playoff positions.

#MálagaLevante will be officiated by Óliver De la Fuente Ramos, accompanied on the VAR by Iñaki Vicandi Garrido. The 31-year-old ref is currently in his ninth season in the silver division. This 22/23 campaign he has officiated MCF twice, with both matches ending in defeat for the Malaguistas (1-0 in Leganés and 0-1 against Oviedo).

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, Samu García and Sadiku

(*) Also played for CD Málaga

Coaches in common Málaga CF-Levante UD

Juande Ramos, Bernd Schuster and Juan Ramón Muñiz

(*) Javi Calleja, Levante coach, was a Málaga CF player (2006-09)

Players in common CD Málaga-Levante UD

Vales, Pauet, Mora, Moix, Rius, Calixto, Ocaña, Vidal, Wanderley, Catalá, Pons and Roa

Coaches in common CD Málaga-Levante UD

Rogelio Santiago “Lelé” and Luis Costa

(*) Vicente Piquer, a CD Málaga player between 1965 and 1967, was Levante UD coach in 1981/82

Match info

• Javi Jiménez, Luis Muñoz, Fran Villalba and Loren, on four yellow cards, are the Malaguistas on the verge of suspension.
• Following his goalscoring debut in Las Palmas, Juvenil Álex Calvo became player number 427 to wear the MCF jersey in an official match.
• Rubén Castro, with seven goals, is the Malaguista league ‘pichichi’. Bouldini, also with seven goals, is Levante’s top scorer.
• At home in the league this season, Málaga CF have accumulated four wins, six draws and five defeats (18 points) in 15 matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding 16.
• Levante UD, the third best away team in the competition, have obtained 23 points in 15 away games from five victories, eight draws and two defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding 15.

Stats and facts

• This is an unprecedented duel against Levante UD in the Second Division at La Rosaleda, under the Málaga Club de Fútbol name.
• In the Second Division, CD Málaga faced Levante on 13 occasions at La Rosaleda (not counting Malacitano 3-0 Levante Gimnástico in 40/41). The Malaguistas claimed seven victories, three draws and three defeats, scoring 31 goals and conceding 16. The last historic duel ended in a 4-1 victory for the Malaguistas in 90/91, with Blue and White goals from Villa, Antonio Mata, Álvarez and Quino.
• In the past seven seasons Málaga CF have played in the silver division, on matchday 32, there was a balance of two wins, one draw and four defeats.