A Sunday afternoon with a great atmosphere in the stands (24,008 fans) and multiple changes on the pitch, as Pellicer made eight changes to his lineup compared to the previous match last Thursday in Tenerife. Only three players repeated as starters: captain Alfonso Herrero in goal, Nelson Monte in defence, and Luismi in midfield.
Málaga didn’t waste any time getting to the Eibar goal, with a shot off target by Dioni just 50 seconds into the game. Corpas had a chance in the 8th minute, firing from the right side, but Herrero made a good save on Eibar's first attack.
Just before the 15-minute mark, Kevin made a destabilising run down the left wing that led to the heart of the area, finding a gap for David Larrubia to slot the ball in with his right foot (1-0, 14’). This was the first goal for the homegrown player number 10, in the Second Division.
Corpas, again active on the right wing, tried his luck with a cross-shot that went just wide of the post in the 23rd minute. Half an hour in, scorer Larrubia had a chance for a second goal after a counterattack that he finished with a shot over the crossbar. Herrero made another good intervention in the 41st minute, saving a shot from Alkain. At half-time, the score was 1-0 in MCF’s favour.
In the second half, the Blue and Whites continued with their game plan, buoyed by the confidence of being ahead on the scoreboard and the support of their loyal fans. In the 56th minute, the referee, after consulting VAR, did not award a penalty to Málaga following a play between Dani Lorenzo and an opponent who unintentionally handled the ball.
Joseba Etxeberria's team struggled to break down a Málaga side consisting of 10 players - five Malagueños - who played in the Primera Federación last year, all except for Luismi, who displayed energy, solidity, and commitment. They almost scored a second goal in the 65th minute with a double chance: a long-range shot from Kevin that was deflected by Fuzato, and Dani Lorenzo hit the rebound straight at the opposing goalkeeper from close range.
In minute 71, Sergio Pellicer made a triple substitution. Kevin, Dani Lorenzo, and Dioni left the field, making way for Castel and homegrown players Antoñito and Ochoa. Two minutes later, Luismi was replaced by a third homegrown player, Izan Merino. Eibar had a chance to equalise in the 76th minute following a dangerous corner that forced Herrero and the defence to work hard to clear the threat.
In the final minutes, the Basque team continued to search for an equaliser, leaving numerous gaps at the back that were ripe for counterattacks. In the 90th minute, Pastor replaced a celebrated Larrubia, reinforcing the defensive line. The score remained unchanged, ending with a final 1-0 to Málaga CF.
The team reaches 17 points in the league standings, positioned in the middle of LaLiga Hypermotion, with their third victory in the championship after 12 matches. All three wins have come at home in the warmth of La Rosaleda. Vamos, Málaga!