The Blue and Whites, currently 14th in the standings with 20 points, will take on Albacete in 13th place with 22 points.
The match will be officiated by referee Alejandro Ojaos from Murcia, with Cantabrian José Antonio López assisting on VAR.
Players in common Albacete Balompié-Málaga CF
Ángelo*, Basti*, Emilio, José González, Axier, Calandria, Salva Ballesta, José Juan Luque, Antonio Hidalgo, Antonio López, Pina, Carpintero, Jon Erice, Edu Ramos, Sergio Sánchez, Héctor Hernández, Keko Gontán, Cifuentes, Febas, Rubén Castro and Diego González
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
(**) Murillo, Málaga CF defender, played in the Albacete Balompié youth ranks
Coaches in common Albacete Balompié-Málaga CF
José González
(*) The home team’s coach, Alberto González, previously worked in Málaga CF’s youth divisions
Players in common Albacete Balompié-CD Málaga
Camoto, Lezama, Juanele, Parra, Antonio Merino, Jon García, Fonseca, Da Silva, Chesa and Padilla
Coaches in common Albacete Balompié-CD Málaga
None
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Albacete Balompié at the Carlos Belmonte
Cristian Díaz (Albacete Balompié 2-2 Málaga CF, 03/01/1999)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player to have played all 1,530 minutes of the league season. The goalkeeper from Toledo ranks second in total saves so far (59), just behind Andrés Fernández (63).
• Rafa, with five goals, is Málaga CF’s top scorer in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, while Agus Medina leads the home team with six goals.
• David Larrubia ranks as the second-best dribbler in the league with 49 successful dribbles, just behind Deportivo’s Yeremay, who has 52.
• Málaga CF’s away league record stands at one win, one draw, and six losses (4 points) from eight matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 12.
• Albacete Balompié’s home record shows three wins, one draw, and four losses (10 points) from eight matches, with 9 goals scored and 13 conceded.
Stats and facts
• This will be the ninth time Málaga CF and Albacete Balompié face each other at the Carlos Belmonte in the Second Division. Málaga’s record includes one win (1-2 in the 2018/19 season), two draws, and five losses. Additionally, the teams met twice in the First Division, with Málaga claiming victories on both occasions in Albacete (0-1 in 2003/04 and 1-2 in 2004/05).
• CD Málaga faced Albacete three times away from home, all in the Second Division, recording two draws (1-1 in 1961/62 and 2-2 in 1990/91, with a brace from Quino) and one victory. The win came on matchday 29 of the 1985/86 season, a 0-1 triumph with the decisive goal scored by José Hurtado.
• Basti, an iconic figure, is a legendary Malaguista goalscorer who played for CD Málaga, Atlético Malagueño, and Málaga CF, helping the first team rise from the Third to the First Division within a decade. He also played for Albacete Balompié (2000–04), achieving promotion to the top flight with the Manchegos in the 2002/03 season.
• In the nine seasons Málaga CF competed in Second Division, on matchday 18, the team recorded one win, four draws, and three losses.