Málaga CF were defeated by CD Castellón at La Rosaleda Stadium on league matchday 37. Visitor, Cala proved decisive, scoring all three goals for his team. Chupe scored both goals for Málaga.
An incredible atmosphere, with an historic welcome from the fans before the match, in the stands of Martiricos. A total of 28,601 spectators attended, the highest turnout of the season and the best so far in the 2025/26 campaign in the Second Division. Before kick-off, the team wore shirts in support of Juanpe following the recent serious injury to the midfielder from Jerez.
Funes made three changes to his lineup compared to the previous match in Almería, bringing in Einar in defence for Montero, and introducing Aaron Ochoa and Niño in attack in place of Dorrio and Rafa R.
Málaga’s start was sensational, creating two clear chances in the opening 10 minutes with a pair of efforts from Joaquín. A goal felt imminent, and it came. A handball in the visitors’ box allowed Chupe to step up, and he calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to convert the penalty (1-0, 12’). It was the homegrown striker’s 17th goal in the LALIGA HYPERMOTION season.
Castellón barely threatened Alfonso Herrero’s goal until past the midway point of the first half, but when they did, they were ruthless. Cala beat the Málaga captain in a one-on-one to level the match (1-1, 27’).
Málaga, and a tireless fanbase that never stopped cheering, were not shaken by the setback and kept pushing in search of a second goal. The match became more balanced after Castellón’s equaliser, not only on the scoreboard, and it went into halftime at 1-1.
The second half began with a clear chance for Castellón, as a scuffed shot from Jakobsen drifted just wide of the right post in the 47th minute. Even so, Funes’ game plan didn’t change one bit, and the team remained fully focused on its tasks in every aspect of play.
Aaron Ochoa, one of the most active players in attack alongside Niño, had two shots in the 57th minute, both saved by goalkeeper Matthys. Pablo Hernández’s side created another chance in the 60th minute through Jakobsen, but Herrero, showing cat-like reflexes, kept it out.
The visiting striker Cala tested Alfonso twice in the 65th and 66th minutes, forcing two fine saves. At the third attempt, however, he made it count, scoring his second goal of the match for CD Castellón. Cala found the net again in the 68th minute to make it 1-2. A minute later, Lobete came on for Niño, with Joaquín switching to the left attacking flank while Lobete took up position on the right wing.
Castellón also showed their strength from set pieces. Cala, unsurprisingly, headed home a cross from an indirect free kick to complete his hat trick (1-3, 76’). Funes then made further changes, bringing on Jauregi and Haitam for Ochoa and Joaquín.
Chupe, with his seventh brace of the season, pulled one back with a well-taken header (2-3, 85’). The striker from Córdoba now has 18 goals in the 2025/26 campaign.
The Blue and White fans pushed like never before, and the team nearly found an equaliser in stoppage time. First, Jauregi fired into the side netting in the 91st minute, and then in the 96th, Chupe’s shot was saved by Matthys.
It wasn’t to be. The final 2-3 scoreline gave the victory to the Castellón side and handed Málaga CF their second defeat at home of the season. With 60 points, Málaga now sit just one point off the promotion playoff spots, with five matchdays remaining before the end of the regular LALIGA HYPERMOTION campaign.