The Malaguistas, with 20 points (one game less) and in 10th place in the standings, face this rival with 23 points in 3rd place, just two points away from direct promotion before the start of the matchday.
The match will be officiated by Salvador Lax Franco. The 33-year-old from Murcia is in his second season in the Second Division, having refereed a total of 29 matches (14 home wins, 4 draws, and 11 away wins). He will be assisted by the VAR referee, Dámaso Arcediano Monescillo, from Castilla-La Mancha.
Players in common Real Zaragoza-Málaga CF
Cornago, Movilla, Sánchez Broto, Antonio Hidalgo, Apoño, Eliseu, Lolo, Pablo Barros, Uche, Roberto, Borja Bastón, Erik Morán, Juankar, Buenacasa, Adrián González, Peybernes, Febas, Delmás, Manu Molina, Iván Calero and Keidi Bare
(*) Ex Malaguista Jorge Pina, the current second coach of MCF’s Juvenil ‘A’, played for Real Zaragoza B
Coaches in common Real Zaragoza-Málaga CF
Marcos Alonso and Natxo González
Players in common Real Zaragoza-CD Málaga
Alonso*, Olivares, Ramos, Sagrado, Elzo, Lasheras, Vidal, Vallejo, Goicoechea, Bustillo, Heredia, Modesto, Pineda and Belman
(*) As CD Malacitano
(**) Antonio Iznata, Juvenil player with CD Málaga, also played for Real Zaragoza
Coaches in common Real Zaragoza-CD Málaga
Antonio Sorribas*, Manuel Olivares, Francisco Bru, Luis Urquiri, Juan Otxoa, Domingo Balmanya and Luis Costa
(*) As CD Malacitano
Players who debuted with Málaga CF against Real Zaragoza at La Romareda
• Tote (Real Zaragoza 1-0 Málaga CF, 30/01/2005)
• Francis Durán (Real Zaragoza 0-1 Málaga CF, 17/01/2007)
• Kiko Olivas (Real Zaragoza 0-1 Málaga CF, 17/01/2007)
• Roberto Santamaría (Real Zaragoza 1-1 Málaga CF, 28/10/2009)
• Iván González (Real Zaragoza 1-1 Málaga CF, 28/10/2009)
• Galatto (Real Zaragoza 3-5 Málaga CF, 12/09/2010)
• Kris Stadsgaard (Real Zaragoza 3-5 Málaga CF, 12/09/2010)
• Sergio Sánchez (Real Zaragoza 0-0 Málaga CF, 25/09/2011)
• Saviola (Real Zaragoza 0-1 Málaga CF, 01/09/2012)
• Juan Soriano (Real Zaragoza 1-2 Málaga CF, 18/10/2020)
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero is the only Malaguista who has played every single minute (1,170) of the team's 13 league matches. The captain has kept a clean sheet seven times - five of those in the last six games - and is currently on a streak of four consecutive matches without conceding a goal.
• Manu Molina is the only Málaga CF player who has participated in every match of the current 24/25 season (13 in La Liga Hypermotion and one in the Copa del Rey).
• Antoñito and Dioni, with three goals, are the Malaguista ‘pichichis’ in the league. Mario Soberón and Iván Azón, both with six goals, are the home side’s highest scorers.
• Málaga CF remains undefeated as an away team in the league so far this season, having recorded six draws (three times by 2-2 and three times by 0-0) in six matches away from La Rosaleda.
• Real Zaragoza have accumulated three victories and three defeats (9 points) at home in six matches, with 11 goals scored and 9 goals conceded.
Stats and facts
• This is the sixth time Málaga CF will face Real Zaragoza at La Romareda in the Second Division. In the previous five encounters, the Málaga team remained unbeaten, with two victories and three draws. The most recent match ended in a 1-1 draw on matchday 16 of the 22/23 season, with Giuliano Simeone scoring for the hosts and Haitam equalising for the visitors.
• In addition, the two teams have faced each other 10 times in La Liga and twice in the Copa del Rey in Aragón. In these 12 encounters, Málaga have recorded 4 victories, 4 draws, and 4 defeats, with a goal tally of 20 goals scored and 16 conceded.
• In 21 official matches at Zaragoza's home ground, CD Málaga was only able to secure a victory once. This came in the 5th round of the 52/53 season in the First Division, at the Torrero Stadium. The result was 0-2, with goals from San Emeterio and Juan for Málaga.
• In the eight seasons that Málaga CF played in the Second Division, on matchday 15, they recorded a balance of six draws and two losses.