It was a cold Sunday night but with the usual strong turnout from the fans in the stands (24,221 spectators). On the pitch, Funes made four changes to his starting-11: Murillo and Montero partnered in central defence in place of Recio and Einar, Dotor replaced Rafa in midfield, and Joaquín came in for Niño in attack.
Málaga started on the front foot against a Cultural side focused on defensive duties. Chupe, just four minutes in, tried twice to score with two shots. Larrubia was the most active of the Blue and Whites, always dangerous down the right flank in attack.
Without many clear chances, the match moved into the closing stretch of the first half. In the 38th minute came MCFs best opportunity. A clear counterattack led by Chupe, who set up Dotor, but the Madrid-born midfielder’s shot was saved by Badía just as the 1–0 seemed certain. Two minutes later, former Malaguista Iván Calero caught Alfonso Herrero off guard with a long-range strike that found the net (0-1, 40’).
Before the break, in added time, Calero tried his luck again with another dangerous effort, this time pushed away by Herrero.
After the restart, Funes made a substitution: Aaron Ochoa for Dani Lorenzo. In the 47th minute, Chupe had the equaliser with a header from a corner, but Badía produced a spectacular save. Then in minute 53, Joaquín once again tested the visiting goalkeeper’s reflexes with a shot close to the right post.
Chupe tried again in the 57th minute with a shot that sailed over the crossbar. Cultural responded in the 60th with a powerful strike from Chacón that Herrero deflected away. A minute later, Badía once again denied Chupe, who struck a well-placed volley toward the left post.
The equaliser had to come. And it did. A superb team move ended with Chupe on the left, and the number ‘9’ set up David Larrubia, who made no mistake from close range (1-1, 63’). It was the homegrown player’s fifth league goal of the season.
In the 70th minute, Málaga made a double substitution: Juanpe and Niño came on for Izan Merino and Joaquín. Chupe, with a low shot, was once again denied by another fine save from Badía. In minute 76, Ochoa looked for the second goal with a strike from outside the box.
In the closing stages, Eneko Jauregi replaced Chupe (87’). Deep into stoppage time, the commanding figure of David Larrubia emerged once more. A brilliant solo play by the number ‘10’ ended with a superb shot into the top corner, bringing the crowd to its feet and sealing the match (2-1, 93’). A brace and six league goals now for ‘Larru’. In the final moments, Rafa came on for Dotor in the 96th minute.
Three more points, bringing the total to 41, which place Málaga in 5th position in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, in a promotion playoff spot. Vamos, Málaga!