An Andalucían derby for promotion to the top flight awaits, with the Malaguistas overcoming UD Las Palmas 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals, while Almería eliminated CD Castellón 4-3 on aggregate.
Referee Salvador Lax will officiate #MálagaAlmería. The 35-year-old from Murcia is in his third season in the Second Division. He has refereed Málaga twice during the 2025/26 campaign (Málaga CF 2-2 Granada CF and Cádiz CF 0-3 Málaga CF). He will be assisted by Canary Islander Raúl Martín González on VAR.
Players in common Málaga CF-UD Almería
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 UD Almería’s youth ranks
Coaches in common Málaga CF-UD Almería
Pepe Cayuela*, Javi Gracia and Pepe Mel
(*) As Almería CF
Players in common CD Málaga-UD Almería*
Emilio, Onofre, Castillo and Diego López**
(*) As Almería CF
(**) Also played for Atlético Malagueño -first team-
Coaches in common CD Málaga-UD Almería
None
(*) Esteban Vigo, a legendary former player of CD Málaga (1975-77 and 1987-91), coached Almería CF during the 1995/96 season and UD Almería in the 2011/12 campaign.
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against UD Almería at La Rosaleda
• Popo (Málaga CF 2-1 UD Almería, 06/01/2007)
• Abqar (Málaga CF 1-2 UD Almería, 11/09/2018)
• Héctor Hernández (Málaga CF 1-2 UD Almería, 11/09/2018)
• Mamadou Koné (Málaga CF 1-2 UD Almería, 11/09/2018)
• Iván Jaime (Málaga CF 1-2 UD Almería, 11/09/2018)
• Erik Morán (Málaga CF 1-1 UD Almería, 01/02/2019)
• Kellyan (Málaga CF 0-1 UD Almería, 07/09/2019)
• Sadiku (Málaga CF 0-1 UD Almería, 07/09/2019)
Match info
• UD Almería hold an advantage in the playoff, as if the tie remains level after the full 180 minutes of regulation time and the subsequent extra time, there will be no penalty shootout. In that scenario, Rubi's side would advance thanks to their higher league finish during the regular season.
• In the two meetings between Málaga CF and UD Almería during the 2025/26 season, each team claimed a victory at their home ground. The Blue and Whites won 2-1 at La Rosaleda, while the Red and Whites prevailed 3-2 at their own stadium.
• Joaquín Muñoz, after his goal against UD Las Palmas last Wednesday, has reached a total of 12 direct goal contributions (6 goals) and indirect ones (6 assists) this season.
• Málaga CF, playing at home in the 2025/26 season, have recorded 12 wins, eight draws, and two defeats in 22 matches, scoring 43 goals and conceding 25.
• UD Almería, as an away team in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, obtained seven wins, six draws, and eight defeats in 21 matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding 33. In the Copa del Rey, they played two matches (a 0-2 win in Lorca and a 2-1 loss against Eldense), and in the promotion playoff they drew in Castellón (1-1).
Stats and facts
• Málaga CF and UD Almería have met seven times at La Rosaleda in the Second Division. In those previous encounters, Málaga CF claimed two wins (2-1 in 2006/07 and 2025/26), two draws (1-1 in 2018/19 and 1-1 last season, 2024/25), and three away victories (0-1 in 2019/20, 0-3 in 2020/21, and 0-1 in 2021/22).
• UD Almería’s most recent appearance in a First Division promotion playoff dates back to the 2024/25 season, when they were eliminated in the semifinals by Real Oviedo, losing 3-2 on aggregate to the Asturian side, which went on to earn promotion to the top flight.
• What a goal by Popo! Winger, Adolfo Moyano, known in football as “Popo,” made his debut for the Blue and White first team under Juan Ramón Muñiz in the 2006/07 season. His only goal as a Malaguista came in a Málaga-Almería match that ended 2-1 on matchday 19 of the Second Division. It was a goal of stunning beauty and also decisive, as he scored it in the 87th minute to give Málaga the victory.
• CD Málaga and AD Almería, predecessors of today’s Málaga CF and UD Almería, faced each other historically twice in the Second Division at La Rosaleda. There was a 0-0 draw in the 1978/79 season and a Malaguista victory in 1981/82 by 2-0, with goals from Fernando Rodríguez and José Hurtado.