The Blue and Whites, 5th in the table with 60 points, face an Albinegro team sitting 4th with 61 points. Both clubs are currently in the promotion playoff spots.
The referee will be Carlos Muñiz, with José Antonio López assisting in the VAR.
Players in common Málaga CF-CD Castellón
Domínguez*, Manu, Sánchez Broto, Miguel Ángel, Perico, Antonio López, Jonatan Valle, Pere Martí, Víctor, Cristian Rodríguez and Gonzalo Crettaz
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
(**) Former Albinegro Carlos Delgado was part of Málaga CF’s youth ranks
Coaches in common Málaga CF-CD Castellón
None
Players in common CD Málaga-CD Castellón
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 Málaga-CD Castellón
Juan Ramón
(*) Camilo Liz, CD Malacitano player (1934-36), was coach of CD Castellón
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against CD Castellón at La Rosaleda
• Andrés Caro (Málaga CF 3-0 CD Castellón, 30/05/2021)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player to have played all 3,240 minutes of the league campaign. The Toledo-born goalkeeper ranks second in total saves this season with 119, behind only UD Almería’s Andrés Fernández, who has made 128.
• Chupe is Málaga’s top scorer with 16 goals, placing him among the top three scorers in LALIGA HYPERMOTION behind Andrés (19) and league top scorer Sergio Arribas (21). Meanwhile, Camara, with 11 goals, is the visitors’ leading scorer.
• Rafa and Ramón will miss the match due to suspension. Meanwhile, Malaguistas David Larrubia and Joaquín Muñoz are both one booking away from suspension, having accumulated four yellow cards each.
• Málaga CF, the third-best home team in the division, have recorded 11 wins, six draws and just one defeat in 18 matches, collecting 39 points. They have scored 37 goals and conceded 19.
• CD Castellón, away from home, have obtained five wins, seven draws and six defeats in 18 league matches, earning 22 points. They have scored 23 goals and conceded 23.
Stats and facts
• This will be the sixth official meeting between Málaga CF and CD Castellón at La Rosaleda. In the previous five encounters, Málaga have won three times (3-1 in 2007/08, 3-0 in 2020/21, and 1-0 in 2024/25), drawn once (0-0 in 2006/07, all in the Second Division), while Castellón claimed one away victory (0-1 in 2023/24 in Primera Federación).
• Club Deportivo Málaga played a total of 23 home matches against Castellón at Martiricos across all competitions between 1948 and 1992, recording 14 wins, six draws and three defeats. Under the name CD Malacitano, the first-ever meeting in Málaga against Castellón ended in a 2-2 draw in the 1940/41 season.
• Súper Málaga. One of CD Málaga’s most memorable matches from their 1987/88 promotion-winning season came against Castellón at La Rosaleda. In matchday 29 of the Second Division, Kubala’s side secured a thrilling 4-3 victory, with goals from Juanito (two, including a penalty), Paquito, and Esteban.
• Across the nine seasons they have competed in the second tier, Málaga CF have obtained four wins, two draws and three defeats on matchday 37. Interestingly, the most recent precedent came last season against Castellón at La Rosaleda, where Málaga won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Chupe.