Málaga – Leganés match preview
Málaga CF are up against CD Leganés at La Rosaleda on league matchday 32. Kick-off is on Saturday at 18:30.
The Blue and Whites, currently 4th in the table with 54 points and in the promotion playoff spots, host the Madrid-based team sitting in 17th place with 37 points (+6 above the relegation zone).
Refereeing the match is Sergiu C. Muresan, assisted by Rubén Ávalos on VAR.
Players in common Málaga CF-CD Leganés
Artero, Catanha, Canabal, Gerardo, Calandria, Antonio López, Jonatan Valle, Edu Ramos, Recio, Amrabat, Samu García, Rosales, Michael Santos, En-Nesyri, Andrés Prieto, Borja Bastón, Ignasi Miquel, Alberto Bueno, Erik Morán, Koné, Juan Soriano, Dani Barrio, Brandon, Juanfran, Bustinza, Avilés, Dioni, Portillo, Juan Cruz and Darko Brasanac
Coaches in common Málaga CF-CD Leganés
None
(*) A former player of CD Málaga and Atlético Malagueño, Rafa Muñoz, was the manager of CD Leganés in the 2010/11 season. That same campaign, Miguel Rivera, who had coached Málaga CF ‘B’ in the 1997/98 season, also managed CD Leganés
(**) There has been no player or coach from CD Málaga who played for or managed the CD Leganés first team
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against CD Leganés at La Rosaleda
• Michael Santos (Málaga CF 4-0 CD Leganés, 23/10/2016)
• Cecchini (Málaga CF 0-2 CD Leganés, 15/10/2017)
Match info
• Funes, in the 18 matches he has managed as first team coach (including the Copa del Rey game in Talavera de la Reina), has ensured that his team has scored at least one goal in every match. In total, they have scored 36 goals, an exact average of 2 goals per game.
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player who has played all 2,790 minutes of the league season. The Toledo-born goalkeeper ranks second in total saves so far (100), behind only UD Almería’s keeper Andrés Fernández (108).
• Chupe is Málaga CF’s top scorer (16 goals) in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. After three consecutive braces, he has established himself in third place in the ‘Pichichi’ standings, only behind Arribas (18 goals) and Andrés (17 goals). Millán, with 5 goals, is the ‘Pepinero’ side’s top scorer.
• David Larrubia, Málaga’s second top scorer with 9 goals, is the best dribbler in the Second Division (92 successful dribbles), with a clear lead over Deportivo winger Yeremay (74), who ranks second in that statistical category.
• Niño and Aaron Ochoa are unavailable due to their commitments with the Spain and Ireland U-21 national teams. Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo, David Larrubia and Joaquín Muñoz are one booking away from suspension, each having accumulated four yellow cards.
• Málaga CF, the best home team in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, have recorded 10 wins, 5 draws, and just 1 defeat in 16 matches (35 points), with 35 goals scored and 19 conceded.
• CD Leganés, in 16 away matches, have recorded 4 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses (18 points), scoring 18 goals and conceding 19.
Stats and facts
• This is the fifth time Málaga CF and CD Leganés face each other in the Second Division at La Rosaleda. The Malaguistas won in 1998/99 (3-0) and 2022/23 (2-0), while the visitors triumphed in 2020/21 (1-2) and 2021/22 (0-2).
• Additionally, there have been two more encounters in the First Division at Martiricos, with a Malaguista win (4-0 in 2016/17) and a Madrid victory (0-2 in 2017/18).
• As CD Málaga, there is only one previous match against Leganés at La Rosaleda. It took place in the 1988/89 season, in the return leg (first leg 1-1) of the Copa del Rey’s 3rd round, with a clear Malaguista victory by 6-0, thanks to goals from Lauridsen, Esteban Vigo, Paquito, Azuaga, Gil, and Pineda.
• In the nine seasons Málaga CF have played in the Second Division, on matchday 32 they have recorded three wins, two draws, and four losses. The most recent precedent, last season (2024/25) at La Rosaleda, was positive, with a 2-0 victory over Racing Club Ferrol thanks to goals from Lobete and Larrubia.