The Blue and Whites, with 24 points and 14th in the standings, will face this Alicante side currently 19th with 20 points, just one point away from the relegation zone, which is occupied by Córdoba CF in 18th place with 21 points.
#MálagaEldense will be officiated by Rafael Sánchez López. The 33-year-old from Murcia is in his fifth season in the Second Division, having officiated 92 matches (49 home wins, 22 draws, and 21 away wins). He will be assisted by VAR official Raúl Martín González Francés, from the Canary Islands.
Club Deportivo Eldense
The team from the Alicante town of Elda, founded in 1921, has never played in the First Division throughout its more than 100-year history. In the Second Division, they have spent a total of seven seasons across three different periods (1956-59, 1962-64, and currently since 2023).
As for players in common, their current squad includes former Malaguista goalkeeper Dani Martín. Aarón Ñíguez, although he never officially debuted for Málaga, played for Eldense during the 2021/22 season. Paco Fernández and Geovanni Barba, both former Atlético Malagueño players, also had stints at Eldense.
There are several connections to the now-defunct Club Deportivo Málaga, both as coaches and players for both teams. As coaches, Juan Ramón, Liz, and Antonio Ruiz are notable examples. The second, Liz, was a player for CD Malacitano, while Ruiz played for CD Málaga and was a teammate of Abdullah Ben Barek. As players, Camoto, Rufo, and Beato also played for both clubs.
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against CD Eldense at La Rosaleda
• Ochoa (Málaga CF 1-0 CD Eldense, 06/12/2023)
• Izan Merino (Málaga CF 1-0 CD Eldense, 06/12/2023)
Match info
- Alfonso Herrero is the only Malaguista to have played every minute (1,710) of LaLiga Hypermotion. The Toledo-born goalkeeper is the leader of the competition in saves, with a total of 84 (4.42 per game), and is currently in third place in the Zamora Trophy standings.
- Nelson Monte, Víctor García and Carlos Puga, are the Malaguistas who are one yellow card away from suspension due to accumulating four yellow cards in the cycle. Manu Molina is available after serving his suspension.
- Dioni and Antoñito, with three goals, are the Malaguista ‘pichichis’ in the League. Juanto Ortuño, with five goals, is the highest scorer for the visitors.
- Málaga CF's home record in the league after nine matches is four wins, four draws, and one loss (16 points), with 7 goals scored and 6 conceded.
- CD Eldense's away record in the league after nine matches is one win, two draws, and six losses (5 points), with 6 goals scored and 13 conceded.
Stats and facts
- This will be an unprecedented match in the Second Division as there are no previous encounters between Málaga CF and CD Eldense.
- In the 2023/24 season, MCF and Eldense faced off in the Copa del Rey in a single-elimination match held at La Rosaleda. Pellicer's side advanced to the next round after winning 1-0, with Juanpe scoring in the 41st minute of the first half.
- CD Málaga faced CD Eldense six times at La Rosaleda during their history as a club. Four of those encounters were in the Second Division, with Málaga winning three and Eldense one. The teams also met once in the return leg of the 1st round of the Copa del Rey, with a 3-1 victory for Málaga (the match was decided by penalties, 4-3, in favour of Málaga) in the 76/77 season. Another match took place in a relegation playoff in Segunda 'A', featuring a thrilling 4-4 draw in the first-ever meeting between the two teams during the 41/42 season.
- In the eight seasons that Málaga CF played in the Second Division, on matchday 20, the team recorded one win, five draws, and two losses.