The Malaguistas, 15th in the standings with 39 points, will face this rival from Castilla-La Mancha with 37 points, currently in 17th place in the table.
The match will be officiated by Álvaro Moreno Aragón. The referee, born in Granada, is currently in his eighth season in the Second Division, with a total of 161 matches. This 2024/25 season, he has already officiated two Málaga CF games: a 1-0 home victory against FC Cartagena and a 2-2 away draw against Cádiz CF.
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, Cifuentes, Febas, Rubén Castro and Diego González
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
(**) Murillo, Málaga CF player, was part of the Albacete BP youth ranks
Coaches in common Albacete Balompié-Málaga CF
José González
(*) The current Albacete manager, Alberto González, previously coached in the Málaga CF youth ranks.
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, the only Malaguista to have played every minute (2,700) of all the matches in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, is the league leader in saves with a total of 124 (4.13 per game). He is also ranked fourth in the Zamora Trophy, behind Rubén Yáñez, Andrés Fernández, and Raúl Fernández (the leader).
• Dioni, with six goals, is Málaga's top scorer. Higinio, also with six goals (four of them from penalties), is the top scorer for the home team.
• Kevin, Víctor García, Dani Sánchez, Gabilondo, and Pastor are all Malaguistas at risk of suspension with four yellow cards. Nelson Monte and Luismi are available after serving their suspension.
• Málaga CF have accumulated two wins, nine draws, and four losses (15 points) in 15 away league matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding 20.
• Albacete Balompié have achieved six wins, six draws, and three losses (24 points) in 15 home league matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding 18.
Stats and facts
• This will be the eighth time Málaga CF face Albacete Balompié at Carlos Belmonte in the Second Division. The Málaga record stands at one win (1-2 in the 18/19 season, with goals from Ontiveros and N’Diaye), two draws, and four losses. In addition, there were two more encounters in the First Division, both resulting in Malaguista victories (0-1 in the 03/04 season and 1-2 in the 04/05 season) in Castilla-La Mancha.
• CD Málaga played Albacete three times away, all in the Second Division, recording two draws (1-1 in the 61/62 season and 2-2 in the 90/91 season) and one win. The victory came on matchday 29 of the 85/86 season, with a 0-1 scoreline, thanks to a goal from José Hurtado.
• Basti, a Málaga icon. He is a goal-scoring icon who played for CD Málaga, Atlético Malagueño, and Málaga CF, rising from the Third to the First Division over a decade with the first team. He also played for Albacete BP (2000-04), helping them secure promotion to the elite in the 02/03 season.
• In the eight seasons Málaga CF have competed in the Second Division, on matchday 31, they recorded one win, four draws, and three losses.