The Blue and Whites, with 21 points and in 20^th place in the standings before the start of the matchday, face this Asturian rival in 11^th place with 31 points.

The match will be officiated by Rubén Ávalos Barrera. This 35-year-old referee is in his fifth season in the silver division, accumulating 93 matches (36 local wins, 30 draws and 27 visitor victories). This season he has officiated one Málaga CF match, ending in a Blue and White win by 1-0 at La Rosaleda against SD Ponferradina. Heading up the VAR is Iñaki Vicandi Garrido from the Basque Country.

Players in common Real Sporting-Málaga CF

Emilio, Rafa, Cañizares, Ismael, Lekovic, Popovic, Rodrigão, Cristian Díaz, Calandria, Diego Castro, Pina, Molinero, Xavi Torres, Duje Cop, Michael Santos, Jony, Luis Hernández, Scepovic, Dani Martín, Peybernes and Fran Villalba

(*) Former Malaguista goalkeeper Dani Barrio was part of the Real Sporting de Gijón youth ranks, along with Gerardo and Peláez, Asturian midfielders who were reserve team players participating in the Blue and Whites’ promotion to the elite in 07/08.

(**) Ex Malaguistas Saúl and Gascón played for Real Sporting de Gijón ‘B’

(***) Iván Hernández and Andreu, ex Málaga B players, were part of Real Sporting. Omar, former Atlético Malagueño defender, trained within the Mareo youth ranks

Coaches in common Real Sporting-Málaga CF

José Manuel Díaz Novoa and José Alberto López

(*) Former Blue and White manager, Juan Ramón Muñiz was a Sporting player between 1990 and 1996

Players in common Real Sporting-CD Málaga

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

(*) Under the CD Malacitano name

Coaches in common Real Sporting-CD Málaga

None

Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Real Sporting at El Molinón-Enrique Castro ‘Quini’

• Keidi Bare (Real Sporting 2-2 Málaga CF, 11/11/2008)
• Sekou Gassama (Real Sporting 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/09/2021)

Match info

• Sergio Pellicer re-debuts in the Blue and White dugout. The coach from Nules has directed Málaga CF in the silver division for a total of 62 games, accumulating 21 victories, 20 draws and 21 defeats. The 24^th manager (28 in total) for MCF since 1994.
• N’Diaye, Febas and Loren are on the verge of suspension with four yellow cards. Fran Villalba, as in the first-round clash, won’t be part of this game due to contractual reasons.
• Following Lago Junior’s goal in the last match, there are now 12 different Málaga CF players who have scored this current Liga SmartBank season.
• Rubén Castro, a goal away from matching local legend, Quini in the number of goals in the First and Second Divisions (El Brujo scored 284), is the Malaguista ‘pichichi’ with five goals. Cristo González is Sporting’s top scorer, also with five goals.
• Away from home, Málaga CF have obtained one League win, three draws and eight losses (six points) in 12 matches, scoring eight goals and conceding 15.
• At home in the league in 12 matches, Real Sporting have a total of five victories, five draws and two defeats, scoring 17 goals and conceding 11.

Stats and facts

• The eighth time Málaga CF will face Real Sporting in Gijón in the Second Division. Past matches ended in two Malaguista wins, two draws and three defeats.
• In the First Division, there have been six matches between Sporting and Málaga CF at El Molinón, resulting in two victories, one draw and three defeats for MCF. Out of all matches held in Asturias between these rivals, the Blue and Whites obtained four wins, three draws and six defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding 17.
• Weligton’s Garden. ‘El Mariscal’ had a special idyll with El Molinón during his time with the Blue and Whites. Of the nine goals he scored with MCF in the League, three were against Sporting in Gijón in three consecutive seasons (08/09, 09/10 and 10/11).
• Luis Merino’s dream debut. He debuted with CD Málaga at El Molinón against Sporting. It was matchday 32 in the First Division in the 88/89 season, ending in a 1-2 win for Benítez’s Málaga. Merino made it 0-1 in the first minute! Narciso equalised in 49’ and once again Merino scored the definitive 1-2 in minute 61. Incredible.
• In the seven seasons Málaga CF played in the Second Division on matchday 25, they obtained two wins, two draws and three defeats.