The clash between the Blue and Whites and the rival from Asturias, broadcast on GOL, pits the Malaguistas – 4^th place in the standings with 54 points – against Sporting, sitting in 10^th position with 45 points. In the first-round match, held at El Molinón-Enrique Castro Quini, Málaga CF drew (2-2) against Sporting with goals from Juanpi and Koné.

Valentín Pizarro Gómez from Madrid will be officiating this match. He has refereed three Málaga CF matches, all this 2018/19 season, ending in three Malaguista victories: 0-1 against UD Almería, 2-0 against CD Numancia and 0-2 against Real Zaragoza.

Players in common Málaga CF-Sporting de Gijón

Emilio, Ismael, Cañizares, Lekovic, Popovic, Rodrigão, Cristian Díaz, Ismael, Calandria, Diego Castro, Jorge Pina, Molinero, Xavi Torres, Duje Čop, Jony, Michael Santos and Luis Hernández

(*) Iván Hernández and Andrey played for Sporting, and were also part of Málaga CF. Omar, an Atlético Malagueño defender for three seasons, passed through the Mareo youth ranks

Coaches in common Málaga CF-Sporting de Gijón

José Manuel Díaz Novoa

Players in common CD Málaga-Sporting de Gijón

Camilo Liz*, Bachiller, Gundemaro, García, Comas, Cesáreo López, Vera, Beascoechea, Pellicer and Megido

(*) Under the CD Malacitano name

Coaches in common CD Málaga-Sporting de Gijón

None

To take into account

• Ricca, Lombán and Pacheco, with 4 yellow cards, are the Malaguistas on the brink of suspension.
• Adrián is MCF’s league 'pichichi' with 7 goals. Djurdjević and Carmona (absent from this match), also on 7 goals, are Sporting’s top scorers.  
• Away from home in LaLiga 1|2|3, Sporting de Gijón have obtained a total of 4 victories, 5 draws and 6 defeats, with 14 goals scored and 14 conceded.

Stats and facts

• Málaga CF and Sporting de Gijón have played each other three times at La Rosaleda in the Second Division. The Malaguista balance of results is 1 victory and 2 draws; 5 goals scored and 4 conceded.
• The total number of official matches (First and Second Division) between these rivals at Martiricos is 9, ending in 6 victories and 3 draws for the Malaguistas, 14 goals scored and 7 conceded.
• In the past three seasons in the Second Division, on matchday 32, MCF obtained 1 draw (0-0 against Albacete Balompié) and 2 defeats (1-2 against CD Badajoz and 1-0 against Real Valladolid).

Juan Ramón Muñiz

The Malaguista coach, born in Gijón, was trained in the Mareo youth categories and belonged to Sporting’s first team between 1991 and 1996. A superb central defender, Muñiz played a total of 179 official matches (8 goals) with the outfit from Asturias.