The Blue and Whites, 15th in the standings with 31 points, face Levante ranked 7th with 42 points, just one point away from the playoff spots for promotion to La Liga.
The match will be officiated by Iosu Galech Azpeteguía. The 34-year-old referee from Navarre is in his sixth season in the Second Division. This will be the third time he has officiated a Málaga CF match this season, after the away games against Granada CF (2-2) and Burgos CF (0-0). He will be assisted in VAR by Aitor Gorostegui Fernández-Ortega from the Basque Country.
Players in common Málaga CF-Levante UD
Jesule (*), Sandro, Brahim, Ruano, Pato, Duda, Miguel Ángel, Nacho, Juanma, Geijo, Armando Lozano, Salva Ballesta, Manolo Reina, Pina, Saúl, Molinero, Carpintero, Peragón, Munúa, Caicedo, Xavi Torres, Valdo, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Javi Guerra, Samu García, Sadiku and Ignasi Miquel
(*) Also played for CD Málaga
Coaches in common Málaga CF-Levante UD
Juande Ramos, Bernd Schuster and Juan Ramón Muñiz
(*) Javi Calleja, former Levante coach, was a Málaga CF player (2006-09)
Players in common CD Málaga-Levante UD
Vales, Pauet, Mora, Moix, Rius, Calixto, Ocaña, Vidal, Wanderley, Catalá, Pons and Roa
Coaches in common CD Málaga-Levante UD
Rogelio Santiago “Lelé” and Luis Costa
(*) Vicente Piquer, CD Málaga player between 1965 and 1967, was coach of Levante UD in the 81/82 season
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Levante UD at La Rosaleda
• Santa Cruz (Málaga CF 3-1 Levante UD, 15/09/2012)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Malaguista to have played every minute (2,250) of all the matches in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. The goalkeeper from Toledo leads the league in saves, with a total of 110 (4.40 per match), and is ranked fourth in the Zamora Trophy standings with a coefficient of 1.08.
• Dioni, with six goals, is the top scorer for Málaga so far this season. José Luis Morales, with seven goals, is the highest scorer for Levante.
• Defenders Nelson Monte (injured), Víctor García, Dani Sánchez, Gabilondo and Pastor, are the Malaguistas at risk of suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
• Málaga CF have five wins, five draws, and two losses (20 points) at home in 12 matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding 9.
• Levante UD, away from home, have obtained five wins, four draws, and four losses (19 points) in 13 games, with 14 goals scored and 12 conceded.
Stats and facts
• This is the second time Málaga CF and Levante UD will face each other in the Second Division at La Rosaleda. The only previous encounter ended in a goalless draw on matchday 32 of the 2022/23 season.
• Málaga CF remain unbeaten in official matches at Martiricos against Levante UD, with a record of 10 games. The Blue and White team's record includes seven victories (six in La Liga and one in the Copa del Rey) and three draws (two in the elite and the previously mentioned one in Second Division), all of which ended 0-0.
• In the Second Division, CD Málaga faced Levante 13 times at La Rosaleda (excluding the 3-0 Malacitano victory over Levante Gimnástico in the 40/41 season). The record stands at seven wins, three draws, and three losses for Málaga, with 31 goals scored and 16 conceded. The most recent historical encounter ended 4-1 in favour of Málaga in the 1990/91 season, with goals from Villa, Antonio Mata, Álvarez, and Quino.
• In the eight seasons that Málaga CF played in the Second Division, on matchday 26, they had a record of two wins, four draws, and two losses.