A Saturday night with a spectacular atmosphere in the stands, as the Malaguista fans were fully behind their team from the very first minute of play. On the pitch, Sergio Pellicer repeated the same starting-11 for the third consecutive match.
Elche took the lead very early on. A classic striker’s move by Álvarez, who finished from close range to beat Herrero (0-1, 3'). The first chance for Málaga came shortly before the 15-minute mark, with a shot from the edge of the box by Manu Molina, which went over the bar in the 14th minute.
Sarabia's team, known for the visiting coach's trademark style of highly combinative play, made things difficult for a Málaga side playing with more heart than skill, unable to trouble Dituro's goal.
In the 41st minute, Álvarez tested Alfonso Herrero's reflexes with a powerful shot that the Málaga goalkeeper saved. Three minutes later, the visiting striker again came close with a shot near the right post. At half-time, Elche held a narrow lead.
At the start of the second half, Julen Lobete replaced Yanis Rahmani on the right wing. And, just like in the first half, Elche struck again with a second goal. A great long-range shot from Nico found the top corner (0-2, 49').
In the 60th minute, Pellicer made a double substitution. Dani Lorenzo and Sergio Castel came on for Luismi and Dioni. Elche executed their game plan to perfection, with the score in their favour and preventing any signs of a Málaga comeback. Mourad, after a penalty awarded by VAR, extended the lead (0-3, 77').
Málaga used up their remaining substitutions with another double change: Baturina and Larrubia came on for reserve team players Ochoa and Cordero (77'). In the 86th minute, Alfonso Herrero showcased his sharp reflexes with another fine save from Álvarez. A minute later, David Larrubia came close to scoring with a cross-shot, in the last attempt from Málaga to find the back of the net.
The match ended 0-3, bringing an end to Málaga CF's unbeaten run after seven matches, leaving the team with 10 points in the LaLiga Hypermotion standings.
