Andalusian clash for a place in the First Division between the Blue and Whites and Red and Whites, after a 0-0 draw six days ago in the first leg at La Rosaleda Stadium.

Carlos Muñiz will referee #AlmeríaMálaga. The 30-year-old from Zaragoza has spent two seasons in the Second Division. In the 25/26 season, he has officiated three Málaga matches, with the Malaguistas recording two wins and one loss in those games. He will be assisted in the VAR by Javier Iglesias from A Coruña.

Players in common UD Almería-Málaga CF

Dani**, Sousa*, Cidoncha*, Jon Bakero*, Dorado*, Míchel*, Calleja*, Bravo, Juanito, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Portillo, Casado, Charles, Yanis Rahmani, Peybernes, Sekou, Appiah, Fran Villalba and Nelson Monte

(*) As Almería CF
(**) As Almería CF and UD Almería
(***) Malaguista Carlos Puga was part of the UD Almería youth ranks

Coaches in common UD Almería-Málaga CF

Pepe Cayuela*, Javi Gracia and Pepe Mel

(*) As Almería CF

Players in common UD Almería-CD Málaga*

Emilio, Onofre, Castillo and Diego López**

(*) As Almería CF
(**) Also played for Atlético Malagueño -first team-

Coaches in common UD Almería-CD Málaga

None

(*) Esteban Vigo, a historic former player of CD Málaga (1975-77 and 1987-91), went on to coach Almería CF in the 1995/96 season and UD Almería in 2011/12

Players who debuted with Málaga CF against UD Almería at the local stadium

• Dani Pacheco (UD Almería 0-1 Málaga CF, 03/09/2018)
• Boulahroud (UD Almería 0-1 Málaga CF, 03/09/2018)

Match info

• UD Almería hold an advantage. If the tie remains level after regular time and extra time, there will be no penalty shootout, and Rubi’s side would be promoted to the First Division thanks to their higher league finish.

• Juanfran Funes is one match away from equalling his two best unbeaten runs as manager of Málaga CF, both of 9 games (matchdays 15-23 and 27-35). The coach from Loja is currently unbeaten in the last five league matches (4 wins, 1 draw) and across the playoffs (1 win, 2 draws).

• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player to have played every minute of all 42 matches in LALIGA HYPERMOTION plus the three promotion playoff games. The Blue and White goalkeeper has surpassed 4,000 minutes this season (4,050 in total).

• Chupe and Arribas will face off in a final showdown to decide the season’s top scorer. The Malaguista ‘9’ has scored 24 goals, while the local striker leads with 26.

• As an away side in the 25/26 season, Málaga CF recorded 9 wins, 3 draws, and 9 defeats in 21 league matches, scoring 33 goals and conceding 28. They also played two additional away games in the Copa del Rey (a 1-3 win in Estepona and a 2-1 loss in Talavera de la Reina) and another in the playoffs ending in a 0-1 victory in Las Palmas.

• UD Almería, the second-best home side in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, obtained 15 wins, 2 draws, and 4 defeats in 21 home matches, scoring 52 goals and conceding 30. They also won their home playoff match 3-2 against CD Castellón.

Stats and facts

• Málaga CF have played at the current UD Almería Stadium seven times in the Second Division. In those meetings, the Blue and Whites have claimed one win (0-1 in 18/19 with a goal from Jack Harper), three draws, and three defeats.

• In all matches played in Almería, Málaga CF have played 17 games across all national competitions (including three as Atlético Malagueño with the first team). The record stands at 2 wins, 6 draws, and 9 defeats for the Malaguistas. These include 5 matches in the top flight, 7 in the Second Division, 2 in Second Division B, 1 in the Third Division and 2 in the Copa del Rey. Málaga’s overall goal record in these games is 13 scored and 24 conceded.

• The now-defunct CD Málaga and AD Almería met three times in Almería between 1979 and 1982. The home side won twice: 3-0 in the 1978/79 Second Division season and 3-2 in the First Division in 1979/80. There was also one draw, 0-0 in the 1981/82 Second Division season.

• If promoted to the First Division, it would be the 14^th in the history of Málaga CF. The club achieved 11 promotions under the name CD Málaga, the last one coming as champions in the 1987/88 season. They have also secured two more in the Málaga CF era, in 1998/99 and 2007/08.