Málaga are in 17th place in the table with 11 points, just one place behind Rayo (16th place, 14 points). The last match between these two rivals at Vallecas, in 2014/15, ended in a 1-0 victory for the local side in the 28th match of the season, thanks to a goal from the now Sevilla player, Kakuta (21’).
The Vallecas stadium has nearly always been adverse for the Blue and Whites, who in eight visits in the First Division as MCF have suffered seven defeats. The only ‘Malaguista’ triumph in the elite was by 1-3 in 2012/13 with goals from Weligton, Baptista and Pedro Morales (Piti scored for Rayo from a penalty).
There was also a Second Division clash between these two rivals in 1998/99, which ended in a 0-2 win for Málaga, with two goals from Catanha and a memorable penalty save by Rafa in the morning match.
Historical dates / curiosities:
- Both Paco Jémez and Javi Gracia have formed 14 different line-ups so far out of the 14 LaLiga matches of 2015/16.
- Weligton and Santa Cruz are the only players remaining who took part in MCF’s victory at Vallecas by 1-3 (2012/13). ‘Weli’ in the starting-11, scored the first goal, 0-1 in minute 21’. Roque substituted Baptista in the second half (67’).
- Oleksander Iakovenko debuted and scored his only goal for Málaga at Vallecas.
- CD Málaga, in their two visits to Vallecas in the First Division, never won. In the Second Division they achieved three victories out of 10 games. In 1975/76 they won by 2-4, with Pavic as the ‘Malaguista’ coach and Alfredo Di Stéfano for Vallecano.
Players in common Rayo Vallecano-Málaga CF:
Bravo, José González, Movilla, Ruano, Rojas, Contreras, Iznata, Canabal, Koke, Míchel, Peragón, Iván Rosado, Ibán Cuadrado, Rubén Martínez, Seba Fernández, Casado and Javi Guerra.
Players in common Rayo Vallecano-CD Málaga:
Trigueros, Bellido, Ortiz, Madrid, Palacios, Dalmau, Velázquez, Búa, Aráez, Chesa and Zapatera.
