CD Castellón - Málaga CF match preview
Málaga CF will visit the SkiFi Castalia Stadium to face CD Castellón. This match, on LaLiga Hypermotion matchday 17, will kick off this Sunday at 14:00.
The Blue and Whites, sitting in 11th place with 22 points, will face the Albinegro side, in 10th place in the league with the same 22 points. Both teams are just four points away from the promotion playoff spots as the current matchday begins.
Referee Óliver de la Fuente Ramos will officiate #CastellónMálaga. The 32-year-old from Valladolid is in his 11th season in the Second Division, having officiated 210 matches in this category. He will be assisted in the VAR by Raúl Martín González Francés from the Canary Islands.
Players in common CD Castellón-Málaga CF
Domínguez*, Manu, Sánchez Broto, Miguel Ángel, Perico, Antonio López, Jonatan Valle, Pere Martí, Víctor, Cristian Rodríguez and Gonzalo Crettaz
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
(**) Ex Albinegro Carlos Delgado was part of the MCF youth ranks
Coaches in common CD Castellón-Málaga CF
None
Players in common CD Castellón-CD Málaga
Mesa, Pastor, Laborda, Elzo, Arnau, Pauet, Serrano, Yuste, Meliá, Rius, Ruiz, Trilles, Búa, Parra, Corral, Heredia, José Hurtado and Fernando Peralta
Coaches in common CD Castellón-CD Málaga
Juan Ramón
(*) Camilo Liz, CD Malacitano player (1934-36), was coach of CD Castellón
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against CD Castellón at Castalia
• Matos (CD Castellón 0-1 Málaga CF, 19/09/2020)
• Alfonso Herrero (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Gabilondo (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Einar (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Nelson Monte (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Víctor (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Juanpe (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Juan Hernández (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Sangalli (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
• Dioni (CD Castellón 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/08/2023)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero, the only Malaguista to have played every single minute (1,440) of LaLiga Hypermotion this season, has been a key figure for the team. After keeping six consecutive clean sheets, he went an impressive 603 minutes without conceding a goal until last Wednesday's match against Levante UD. The goalkeeper from Toledo leads the league in saves (68) and is currently third in the Zamora Trophy standings, with a coefficient of 0.94.
• Manu Molina is the only Málaga player to have featured in every match of the 24/25 season (16 in LaLiga Hypermotion and one in the Copa del Rey). He ranks second in the league for completed passes (844) and total passes (977) in the domestic competition.
• Víctor García, Carlos Puga, and Manu Molina are the Málaga players currently one yellow card away from suspension, each having accumulated four bookings. Meanwhile, Luismi is available for selection again after serving his suspension.
• Antoñito and Dioni, with three goals each, are Málaga's top scorers in the league. On the opposing side, Israel Suero leads as the home team's top scorer with six goals.
• Málaga CF have played eight league matches away from home this season, recording seven draws and one defeat, earning a total of 7 points, scoring 8 goals and conceding 10.
• CD Castellón have played eight league matches at home this season, achieving two wins, two draws, and four losses, collecting a total of 8 points. In these games, they have scored 8 goals and conceded 11.
Stats and facts
• This will be the fifth time Málaga CF face CD Castellón at Castalia. In their previous four encounters, Málaga have won three times in the Second Division: 0-1 in the 2006/07 and 2020/21 seasons and 2-3 in the 2007/08 season; and the locals won by 2-1 in 2023/24 in Primera Federación.
• Ramón, the Granada-born midfielder, who played his first minutes of the 24/25 season in the previous match against Levante, scored a memorable goal that gave Málaga CF a 1-0 victory at Castalia during matchday 2 of the 2020/21 Second Division season. In the 17th minute of the first half, positioned on the right side of the attack, Ramón struck a stunning shot with the outside of his right foot, sending the ball into the top corner of the net.
• The last official encounter between CD Málaga and CD Castellón at Castalia in Second Division took place on 20th October 1991. It was the 8th matchday of the 1991/92 season, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The goal for Castellón was scored by Mladenovic, while Ricardo Albis found the net for Málaga.
• In the eight seasons Málaga CF played in the Second Division, on matchday 17 of the championship, the team recorded five wins, two draws, and one defeat. The most recent positive result came in the 2022/23 season, when Málaga won 1-0 at La Rosaleda against Ponferradina.