The Blue and Whites, 10th in the table with 26 points, visit the Red and Whites sitting in 7th place with 30 points, level with sixth-placed Cádiz CF, who currently occupy the final promotion playoff spot.
Alejandro Morilla will officiate the match. The 26-year-old from Navarra is in his first season in the second tier. In the current 2025/26 campaign, he has refereed Málaga CF once, in a 4-1 home win at La Rosaleda against FC Andorra. The VAR official will be Valencia-born Iván Caparrós.
Players in common Real Sporting-Málaga CF
Emilio, Rafa, Cañizares, Ismael, Lekovic, Popovic, Rodrigão, Cristian Díaz, Calandria, Diego Castro, Pina, Molinero, Xavi Torres, Duje Cop, Michael Santos, Jony, Luis Hernández, Scepovic, Dani Martín, Peybernes, Fran Villalba, Yáñez and Dotor
(*) Former Malaguista goalkeeper Dani Barrio came through Real Sporting’s youth ranks, as did Gerardo and Peláez, Asturian midfielders who featured with the reserves during Málaga’s most recent promotion to the top flight in the 2007/08 season.
(**) Former Malaguistas Saúl and Gascón played for Real Sporting ‘B’. Iván Hernández and Andreu, former players for Málaga CF B, featured for Real Sporting. Omar, a former defender for Atlético Malagueño, was developed in the Mareo youth academy.
Coaches in common Real Sporting-Málaga CF
José Manuel Díaz Novoa and José Alberto López
(*) Ex Malaguista coach Juan Ramón Muñiz was a Sporting player between 1990 and 1996
Players in common Real Sporting-CD Málaga
Camilo Liz*, Bachiller, Gundemaro, García, Comas, Cesáreo López, Vera, Beascoechea, Pellicer and Megido
(*) As CD Malacitano
Coaches in common Real Sporting-CD Málaga
None
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Real Sporting at El Molinón-Enrique Castro ‘Quini’
- Keidi Bare (Real Sporting 2-2 Málaga CF, 11/11/2018)
- Sekou Gassama (Real Sporting 2-1 Málaga CF, 26/09/2021)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Málaga CF player to have played all 1,710 minutes of the league season. The Toledo-born goalkeeper leads the competition so far in total saves (68).
• Chupe, with six goals, is Málaga CF’s top scorer in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Dubasin, with eight goals, is the home side’s leading marksman.
• Víctor is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Izan Merino is one booking away from suspension, having already received four yellow cards.
• Away from home in the league, Málaga CF have recorded two wins, one draw and six defeats (7 points) from nine matches, scoring seven goals and conceding 13.
• At home, Real Sporting have registered five wins, three draws and two defeats (18 points) from 10 matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding 11.
Stats and facts
• This will be the 10th time Málaga CF visit Gijón to face Real Sporting in the Second Division. In the previous meetings, Málaga have recorded three wins, three draws and three defeats. The most recent encounter ended in a Málaga victory last season (2024/25), with a 1-3 result.
• Additionally, in the First Division, six matches have been played between Real Sporting and Málaga CF in Asturias, with Málaga recording two wins, one draw, and three defeats. Overall, Málaga’s matches in Gijón total five wins, four draws, and six losses, with 19 goals scored and 18 conceded.
• Weligton’s garden. The historic Brazilian centre-back had a special connection with El Molinón during his time at Málaga CF. Of the nine league goals he scored for Málaga, three were against Sporting in Gijón, and he found the net there in three consecutive top-flight seasons (2008/09, 2009/10, and 2010/11).
• Unforgettable debut for Luis Merino. The Churrianero made his first appearance with CD Málaga at El Molinón against Sporting in the 1988/89 season. On matchday 32 of the First Division, Málaga, coached by Antonio Benítez, won in Gijón 1-2. Merino opened the scoring in the 1st minute (0-1), Narciso equalised in the 49th, and Merino scored again in the 61st to seal the 1-2 victory.
• In the nine seasons Málaga CF have played in the Second Division, on matchday 20, they have recorded two wins, five draws, and two defeats. In the previous 2024/25 season, they won 3-0 at La Rosaleda against CD Eldense.