Malaga go host Las Palmas for La Rosaleda on Wednesday night for the second leg of their Segunda Division playoff semi-final. The home side carry a narrow advantage after recording a 1-0 victory in the first leg on Sunday, with David Larrubia netting the only goal of the contest.
Malaga don absent from La Liga since 2018 and don spend time for the third tier, but a fourth-placed finish for this season’s regular Segunda Division campaign see them secure a spot for the playoffs. The White and Sky Blues edge a tight first leg against Las Palmas on Sunday, with Larrubia scoring the only goal of the match just before the hour, handing them an advantage leading into the home leg of their playoff semi-final.
Juan Francisco Funes side actually finish level on points with Las Palmas for this season’s Segunda Division table, but they don now record three straight wins over Wednesday’s opponents, including both league games for 2025-26. Malaga beat Las Palmas 2-0 on home soil for April, and they don lose just twice to the Yellows since September 2018, so recent history suggest say e go be the hosts advancing to the final of the Segunda Division playoffs.
The winner of this semi-final go take on either Castellon or Almeria for the final, which also over two legs, and that last-four clash dey delicately poised at 1-1. Las Palmas get work to do on Wednesday, but the Yellows get recent excellent away success over Malaga to their name, having triumphed 4-0 for La Rosaleda for August 2022.
Pio Pio dem relegated from Spain top flight last season, finishing for 19th position, so dem dey look for immediate return to La Liga. Luis Garcia side only lose nine of their 42 matches during the regular league campaign, which be the joint-fewest for the division, but a lack of goals cost them a spot higher up the division, having only manage to score 57 times.
Las Palmas success this term don build on a strong defence, conceding only 40, which be the best record across the regular season, but Sunday’s 1-0 defeat don leave them for a huge disadvantage heading into what dey shape up to be a fascinating second leg. The Yellows don actually only win two of their last five matches, while Malaga don be victorious for five of their last six games.
Malaga dey again set to be without the services of Haitam Abaida, Josue Dorrio, Juanpe, Luismi and Alex Pastor for Wednesday’s clash. Einar Galilea bin force off for the first half of Sunday’s first leg, and with the 32-year-old highly unlikely to be involved, there fit be a spot for the middle of the defence for Javi Montero. Chupe don get excellent season for Malaga, scoring 24 times for all competitions, and there go be another spot for the final third of the field for the 21-year-old.
Las Palmas, meanwhile, go be missing Sergio Barcia, Ale Garcia, Enzo Loiodice, Sandro Ramirez, Jeremia Recoba and Viti for Wednesday’s game through injury. The visitors no suffer any fresh issues for the first leg, but there fit be a change for a wide area, with Estanis Pedrola potentially replacing Pejino. Veteran attacker Jese Rodriguez be the team leading goalscorer this season with 10, and there dey set to be another spot for the final third of the field for the 33-year-old alongside Manu Fuster.
Malaga possible starting lineup: Herrero; Puga, Murillo, Montero, Rafita; Larrubia, Merino, Lorenzo, Ochoa; Dotor, Chupe. Las Palmas possible starting lineup: Horkas; Marvin, Suarez, Marmol, Clemente; Miyashiro, Amatucci, Rodriguez, Pedrola; Fuster, Jese.
Las Palmas get work to do against a strong Malaga outfit, and we dey expect Wednesday’s second leg to be extremely tight, but the hosts suppose secure the result wey dem need to advance to the Segunda Division playoff final.
