The Blue and Whites, sitting 5th with 47 points in a promotion playoff spot, will take on this rival who are 18th with 32 points, just two above the relegation zone.
The match will be officiated by Alejandro Morilla. At 26 years old, he is in his first season in the Second Division. This season, he has refereed Málaga CF twice, with two Málaga victories (4-1 against Andorra and 1-3 against Sporting de Gijón). He will be assisted in the VAR by José Antonio López Toca from Cantabria.
Players in common Málaga CF-Real Valladolid CF
Manolo Herrero, Miguelo, Fernando, Ruano, Antonio López, Tote, O. J. Morales, Kiko Olivas, Asenjo, Javi Guerra, Duje Čop, Sandro Ramírez, Roberto Jiménez, Keko Gontán, Hugo Vallejo, Caye Quintana, Sekou Gassama, Hervías, Quintana, Iván Alejo and Luismi
(*) Iván Hernández, Baraja, Fernando Calero, and Kuki Zalazar, players from Málaga B or Atlético Malagueño previously played for Real Valladolid CF, along with goalkeeper Samu Casado (Valladolid Promesas)
Coaches in common Málaga CF-Real Valladolid CF
Marcos Alonso and Gregorio Manzano
(*) Former Blue and White player Julio Baptista coached the Real Valladolid CF reserve team from 2021 to 2024, and the side is currently managed by Javi Baraja, a former Málaga CF ‘B’ player
Players in common CD Málaga-Real Valladolid CF
Peralta, Saso, Soler, Vaquero, Clemades, Torres Robles, Gijón, Martínez, Robles, Fuentes, Fortes, Heredia, Albis, Manolo Hierro, Rodri, Duque, Fonseca, Matosas, Belman, Castillo and Quero
(*) Fernando Hierro, an icon of Real Madrid and the Spain national team, came through the youth system of CD Málaga and later played for Real Valladolid CF
Coaches in common CD Málaga-Real Valladolid CF
Antonio Barrios, Helenio Herrera, Luis Miró and Jenos Kalmar
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Real Valladolid CF at La Rosaleda
Leko (Málaga CF 1-2 Real Valladolid, 16/09/2001)
Match info
• Funes, who has led the Malaguista bench throughout the second third of the competition for Málaga CF, has collected 71% of the available points (32 out of 42), recording 10 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in 14 matches. His team has scored 25 goals and conceded 13, finding the net in every game he has overseen.
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player to have played all 2,520 minutes of the league campaign. The Toledo-born goalkeeper ranks second in total saves this season with 93, behind Andrés Fernández of UD Almería, who has made 101.
• Chupe is the top scorer (10 goals) and assist leader (3 assists) for Málaga CF in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Chuki and Peter, with five goals each, are the visitors’ leading scorers.
• David Larrubia, the second-highest scorer for Málaga CF with eight goals, is the best dribbler in the Second Division, having completed 79 successful dribbles, ahead of Yeremay Hernández of Deportivo de La Coruña, who has 73.
• Carlos Puga will miss the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. With four bookings each, just one away from a federation-imposed suspension, are Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo, and Juanpe.
• Málaga CF, the second-best home team in the league, have recorded nine wins, four draws, and just one defeat in 14 matches at home, collecting 31 points. During that run, the team has scored 27 goals and conceded 13.
• Real Valladolid CF have played 14 away matches, achieving four wins, four draws, and six defeats for a total of 16 points. In those games, the team has scored 15 goals and conceded 22.
Stats and facts
• This will be the third time Málaga CF and Real Valladolid CF will meet in the Second Division at La Rosaleda. The previous results were a 0-1 loss for the Malaguistas in the 2006/07 season and a 2-2 draw in 2021/22, which marked the debut of Pablo Guede as Málaga’s head coach.
• In addition, the two sides have met at Martiricos in matches in the First Division (9) and the Copa del Rey (1). The overall record across the 12 encounters is perfectly balanced, with the Malaguistas registering four wins, four draws, and four defeats.
• Darío’s supersonic goal. Málaga CF defeated Real Valladolid CF at La Rosaleda (3-1) in the 2000/01 season. The match’s opening goal was scored by Darío Silva just eight seconds in. The Uruguayan striker stole the ball from Eusebio Sacristán straight from the visitors’ kick-off, ran toward goal, dribbled past the goalkeeper, and scored to the astonishment of the crowd. It stood as the fastest goal in league history until it was beaten by one second in 2008 by Joseba Llorente, who achieved the record while playing for Real Valladolid.
• CD Málaga and Real Valladolid CF have played 18 official matches in Málaga: 10 in the top flight, six in the Second Division, and two in the Copa del Rey. Across those meetings, Málaga recorded eight wins, six draws, and four defeats, scoring 26 goals and conceding 16 in the overall head-to-head record.
• Across the nine seasons competing in the second tier, Málaga CF recorded four wins, two draws, and three losses on matchday 29.