The ‘Malaguistas’, 17th in the table with nine points, are up against the Catalan-based side, in 13th place with 13 points. As ‘CF’ Málaga have visited Espanyol in the First Division 14 times, resulting in five victories, three draws and six defeats (15 goals scored and 18 conceded), as well as four consecutive League matches without defeat at Cornellà-El Prat.
The first visit to the Catalan stadium, and MCF’s biggest win, was by 0-2 in the 20th match of the 1999/00 season, thanks to goals from Rufete and Darío Silva for Peiró’s team. The last match between these two rivals, and the one with the most goals was last season, 2014/15, ending in a 2-2 draw at the Power8 Stadium, in the 4th match of the season. Camacho and Duda scored for Málaga (Caicedo and Stuani for the locals).
Tomorrow’s game will be a special one for coach, Javi Gracia as he reaches his 50th LaLiga game with Málaga CF. Out of 49 matches, the team has so far achieved 16 wins, 11 draws and 22 defeats (47 goals scored and 57 conceded). The Pamplona-born manager of Málaga CF, in four matches against Espanyol has won once, had two draws and one defeat (four goals scored and five conceded) as Málaga coach.
To take into account:
- The following players have played for both clubs: Rufete, Darío Silva, Kameni, Caicedo, José Juan Luque, Valdo, Sergio Sánchez and Urbano.
- Kameni, if he plays against his former team, will reach 50 consecutive LaLiga games with Málaga, matching ‘Koke’ Contreras’ historic record between 1999/00 and 2000/01.
- Rosales and Kameni have taken part in the 11 complete League matches this season, accumulating 990 minutes. Juankar has taken part in every game (681 minutes).
- With seven matches, Weligton is the ‘Malaguista’ who has played the most Espanyol-MCF matches, equalling Fernando Sanz. Darío and Rufete, as ‘Malaguistas’, have scored the most (two goals) for MCF. Tamudo, with nine goals in eight games, is the highest scorer in games between these two rivals.
- Duda has played 282 First Division matches with MCF, scoring 33 goals. Both his first goal at La Rosaleda, and his last, which was last season in Barcelona, were both from free kicks against Espanyol.
Stats:
- Málaga CF played RCD Espanyol in their last game as locals at the Olímpico Lluís Companys.
- In the Espanyol-Málaga CF (1-0) match of the 2010/11 season, Rafa Gil was interim coach in Málaga’s official 1000th match in the elite division.
- The two youngest players to debut against RCD Espanyol in the First Division were (Branko Kubala and Paul Quaye) from Atlético Malagueño.
- Players in common (CD Málaga): Navés, Domenech, Meri, Camer, Vera, Soto, Benavídez, Zamora, Carlos Torres, Cabral, Vilches, Fortes, Bio, Fonseca, Lauridsen and Jaime Molina.
