The Malaguistas, ranked 14th with 22 points, host the Red and Whites with 31 points, currently in 2nd place on the table prior to the start of this matchday.
The game will be officiated by referee Miguel González Díaz. The 31-year-old Asturian is in his second season in the Second Division. He has refereed 29 matches in the second tier, resulting in 14 home wins, 9 draws, and 6 away wins. In charge of the VAR will be Iván Caparrós Hernández from Valencia.
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, Nelson Monte and Fran Villalba
(*) As Almería CF
(**) Played for Almería CF and UD Almería
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, historic former CD Málaga player (75-77 y 87-91), coached Almería CF in the 95/96 season and UD Almería in 11/12
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
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Malaguista who has played every single minute (1,530) of LaLiga Hypermotion. The goalkeeper from Toledo leads the league in saves (74) and is ranked fourth in the race for the Zamora Trophy.
• Manu Molina is the only Blue and White player who has participated in every match of the 24/25 season (17 in LaLiga Hypermotion and one in the Copa del Rey). He ranks second in completed passes (899) and total passes (1,040) in the domestic competition.
• Nelson Monte, Víctor García, Carlos Puga, and Manu Molina, each with four yellow cards, are Málaga players at risk of suspension.
• Antoñito and Dioni, with three goals each, are Málaga’s top scorers in the league. Luis Javier Suárez, with 12 goals, is the leading scorer for the visitors and in LaLiga Hypermotion.
• Málaga CF have played eight home matches in the league, recording four wins, three draws, and one loss (15 points), with 6 goals scored and 5 conceded.
• UD Almería have recorded four wins, two draws, and three losses (14 points) in nine away league matches, with 15 goals scored and 15 conceded.
Stats and facts
• This is the sixth time Málaga CF will play at La Rosaleda against UD Almería in the Second Division. In the five previous encounters, Málaga CF have won once (2-1, 06/07), there was one draw (1-1, 18/19), and UD Almería won three times in the last three matches (0-1, 19/20; 0-3, 20/21; and 0-1, 21/22).
• In total, Málaga CF have played 14 matches against UD Almería (including two as Atlético Malagueño against Almería CF in the 93/94 season) at Martiricos across all divisions of Spanish football, with a record of 5 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses. Of these, five matches were in First Division, four in Second Division, two in Second B, one in Third Division, and two in the Copa del Rey. Málaga's goal tally in these matches stands at 17 goals scored and 18 conceded.
• Popo’s big night. Saturday 6th January 2007 saw Málaga CF and UD Almería play matchday 19 of the 06/07 Second Division season at La Rosaleda. Perico scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, and Bermejo equalised from the penalty spot in the 35th. In the 67th minute, Muñiz gave a debut to a young homegrown winger. Popo scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute, weaving past several opponents to make it 2-1. A memorable gift in the form of a stunning goal.
• In the eight seasons that Málaga CF played in the Second Division, on matchday 18, they achieved two victories, two draws, and four losses.
