Málaga CF faced AD Mérida on Primera Federación matchday 16 this Sunday 10 December. A thousand Blue and White fans were cheering on the team at the Estadio Romano José Fouto. The fans shared the tribute in the 7th minute of the game to Juan Gómez 'Juanito', a legend who played for CD Málaga and coached Mérida CF when he tragically passed away in 1992.
Pellicer selected the following starting-11: Herrero; Jokin, Murillo, Einar, Víctor; Genaro, Dani Lorenzo, Larrubia, Kevin; Dioni and Roberto.
The match got off to a shaky start with inaccuracies and an exchange of possession. The home side tried to get ahead on the scoreboard in the early stages, but the Malaguistas maintained a clean sheet.
After the first quarter of an hour of play Dioni was brought down for a foul inside the area and the referee signalled a penalty. Roberto converted from the 11-metre mark with precision and power to the right of the goalkeeper (0-1, 16').
The match increased in intensity, and after just four minutes, the locals went level. Chuma finished off a counterattack in minute 20 (1-1).
The match continued without a clear dominance from either side. MCF stepped up their attacks on the rival goal and managed to take the lead again in the 32nd minute. Larrubia took the score to 1-2 by making the most of a great assist from Kevin on the left wing. The ball found the back of the net thanks to a timely Larrubia who finished with finesse against the post (1-2, 32').
Following the goal, the Blue and Whites (in yellow and lime on this occasion) found more clarity in their internal game and once again showed great danger in goal. Genaro shot in the 35th minute from the heart of the area, but defender Llácer deflected the ball.
There was time for another goal from AD Mérida, which was disallowed for being offside in the 44th minute. Sandoval scored, but he was in an advanced position as pointed out by the assistant referee. At 1-2 the match reached half-time.
In the second half the match became somewhat more tempered. Play continued to be disputed in the wide area, but there was hardly any real danger on goal. Sergio Pellicer sought to control the second half better and he succeeded. Kevin and Larrubia left the pitch to make way for Dani Sánchez and Juanpe. The new arrangement barely allowed any serious moves into the Malaguista area and kept the rival relatively controlled in a match that had a crazy pace. The final score was 1-2 and the three points accompany the team back to Málaga.
