Málaga CF are visiting Estadio de la Cerámica to face Villarreal CF ‘B’ on matchday 35 of LaLiga SmartBank. Kick-off is on Good Friday at 21:00.
The Malaguistas, with 30 points and in 20th place in the table, face the Yellows’ reserve team in 9th place with 46 points.
Refereeing this match is Rubén Ávalos Barrera. The 35-year-old from Barcelona has officiated 98 matches over five seasons in the Second Division. This season he has refereed MCF on two occasions, ending in a win (1-0 against Ponferradina at La Rosaleda) and a draw (0-0 in Gijón against Real Sporting) for the Malaguistas. Heading up the VAR is Raúl Martín González Francés from the Canary Islands.
Players in common Villarreal B-Málaga CF
Kiko Olivas, Pere Martí, Jordi Pablo, Dani Toribio, Edu Ramos, Cazorla, Javi Jiménez, Fran Sol, Pau Torres and Ontiveros
Coaches in common Villarreal B-Málaga CF
Javi Gracia
(*) Javi Calleja, former Málaga CF player between 2006 and 2009, coached Villarreal B in 2017/18
Match info
Alberto Escassi reached 100 official matches with MCF last week. Also nearing the 100-milestone are Luis Muñoz (96) and Juande (92).
Rubén Castro is one goal away from the historic Second Division ‘pichichi’ (Nino, 194 goals). The Malaguista number ‘24’, if he plays in Villarreal, will surpass Nino in regard to the number of games played between the First and Second Divisions. Nino and Castro are currently tied on 709 matches.
Luis Muñoz, Javi Jiménez and Loren Zúñiga are the Malaguistas on the verge of suspension with four yellow cards.
Rubén Castro, with eight goals, is the top Blue and White scorer. Sergio Lozano, with five goals, is the locals’ ‘pichichi’.
Away from home, Málaga CF have accumulated one win, five draws and 11 defeats in the League (eight points), scoring 12 goals and conceding 22.
At home, Villarreal B have obtained eight victories, six draws and three defeats (30 points), scoring 26 goals and conceding 17.
Stats and facts
This is an unprecedented match in Castellón between Málaga CF and Villarreal CF ‘B’.
The Villarreal CF reserve team are in their fourth season in the Second Division. They played in the category in three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2012, emulating what was achieved by Málaga B, who competed in Segunda 'A' in 03/04, 04/05 and 05/06.
In the seven seasons MCF have played in the silver division, on matchday 35, they obtained two victories, four draws and one defeat. Last season, 21/22, the result was a 2-2 draw at La Rosaleda against Real Valladolid in Pablo Guede’s debut as Malaguista coach.
