Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Match Preview
Crisis meets desperation at La Rosaleda this Sunday. Málaga CF comes into this match in turmoil following the dismissal of manager Sergio Pellicer just days ago after a 1-0 loss to Cultural Leonesa. With interim boss Juan Francisco Funes stepping into the dugout, the Boquerones are desperate to steady the ship and pull away from the danger zone.
They face a CD Mirandés side that is fighting for its life in 21st place. Newly appointed manager Jesús Galván (hired earlier this month) has had a rocky start, including a tough derby loss to Burgos last weekend. With both clubs navigating managerial changes in November, this match is less about tactics and more about which squad can handle the psychological pressure of a relegation “six-pointer.”
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Málaga CF vs CD Mirandés
- Competition: La Liga Hypermotion (Matchday 15)
- Venue: Estadio La Rosaleda, Málaga (Capacity: 30,044)
- Date: Sunday, 23 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Monday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): LaLigaTV, Premier Sports
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): FanCode (Live Stream)
- Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA), FanCode (India)
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Málaga CF:
- Position: 16th in Segunda División (15 points).2
- Form: Spiraling. They have picked up just one point from their last three league games. The 1-0 midweek defeat to Cultural Leonesa was the final straw for the board.
- Current Challenge: Rallying behind interim coach Funes. The atmosphere at La Rosaleda will be tense; fans demand a reaction.
CD Mirandés:
- Position: 21st in Segunda División (Relegation Zone).
- Form: Inconsistent. A morale-boosting win over Sporting Gijón was immediately followed by a deflating 0-2 home loss to Burgos.
- Current Challenge: Fixing a leaky defense that has conceded 5 goals in their last 3 league outings.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — What’s at Stake
For Málaga CF:
- Avoiding the Drop Zone: A loss here would drag them terrifyingly close to the bottom four. They need to win to restore calm to a volatile club environment.
For CD Mirandés:
- Survival Lifeline: Sitting 21st, Mirandés are running out of time to bridge the gap to safety. A win away at a direct rival would be a massive statement for Jesús Galván’s tenure.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Team Form
Málaga CF (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Cultural Leonesa (0-1)
- D vs Córdoba (2-2)
- L vs Castellón (1-2)
- W vs CD Estepona (3-1 – Copa del Rey)
- W vs Andorra (4-1)
CD Mirandés (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Burgos CF (0-2)
- W vs Sporting Gijón (2-1)
- L vs Cultural Leonesa (2-3)
- W vs Atl. Astorga (2-1 – Copa del Rey)
- L vs Racing Santander (1-3)
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Team News
Málaga CF:
- Injury Crisis: The hosts are decimated by injuries. Key midfielder Luismi (face) and defender Moussa Diarra (knee) are significant losses.8
- Suspension: Javi Montero is out due to yellow card accumulation.
- Return: Dioni is expected to lead the line alongside Lobete, hoping to rediscover the scoring touch from early season.
CD Mirandés:
- Suspension: Defender Diego Murillo is suspended following a red card.
- Injuries: Darko Brasanac (knee) remains sidelined, stripping the midfield of experience.9
- Tactical Shift: Galván has been experimenting with a back five to stop the bleeding, but might revert to a 4-4-2 to attack Málaga’s fragile confidence.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Head to Head
- 21 Jan 2025: Mirandés 3–2 Málaga
- 25 Aug 2024: Málaga 1–1 Mirandés
- 14 May 2023: Málaga 2–0 Mirandés
- 27 Aug 2022: Mirandés 1–3 Málaga
- 30 Jan 2022: Mirandés 3–0 Málaga
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Predicted Lineups
Málaga CF (4-2-3-1):
Interim boss Funes is likely to stick to basics to restore confidence.
- GK: Alfonso Herrero
- RB: Carlos Puga (Rafita)
- CB: Einar Galilea
- CB: Álex Pastor (Wait – Listed as injured, likely Nelson Monte)
- LB: Víctor García
- CDM: Izan Merino
- CDM: Recio
- RW: David Larrubia
- CAM: Dani Lorenzo
- LW: Julen Lobete
- ST: Eneko Jauregi
CD Mirandés (5-4-1):
Galván will prioritize defensive solidity away from home.
- GK: Ilija Nikic (Replaces Raul Fernandez)
- RWB: Toni Tamarit
- CB: Sergio Postigo (C)
- CB: Martín Pascual
- CB: Juan Gutiérrez
- LWB: Julio Alonso (or Pablo Pérez)
- RM: Pablo Pérez
- CM: Rafael Bauzà
- CM: Thiago Helguera
- LM: Alberto Martín
- ST: Alberto Marí
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Impact Bench Options
Málaga CF:
- Antonio Cordero: The young winger has been a bright spark this season (4 goals). If Málaga needs creativity against a low block, he is the first sub.
CD Mirandés:
- Joaquín Panichelli: Their top scorer (8 goals) is surprisingly listed on the bench in some projections. If he comes on, he offers a massive physical threat in the box.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Tactical Outlook
Málaga CF:
- Playing Style: Possession with Anxiety. Under Pellicer, they had the ball but lacked penetration. Funes will likely demand faster vertical passing to Larrubia and Lobete. They need to get the crowd onside early.
- Weakness: Set-Piece Defending. Without Diarra and Montero, they lack height. Mirandés will target every corner and free-kick.
CD Mirandés:
- Playing Style: Counter-Punching. Galván’s side will sit deep in a 5-4-1, inviting Málaga to overcommit. They will look to bypass the midfield quickly to Alberto Marí.
- Strength: Goal Threat. Despite their league position, they score goals (scored in 4 of last 5). They are dangerous when the game becomes chaotic.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Eneko Jauregi vs. Sergio Postigo | Youth vs. Experience: Jauregi needs to run the channels to tire out the veteran Postigo. If Postigo can make it a physical wrestling match, he wins. | Mirandés |
| Dani Lorenzo vs. Thiago Helguera | The Creative Spark: Lorenzo is Málaga’s most talented player. Helguera must deny him space between the lines, or Málaga will dominate. | Málaga |
| Alfonso Herrero vs. Alberto Marí | Last Line: Herrero has made the 3rd most saves in the league. He needs to be sharp against Marí’s snap shots. | Málaga |
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Spotlight Players
Alfonso Herrero (Málaga CF):
The goalkeeper is often the only thing standing between Málaga and disaster. With a makeshift defense in front of him, he will need to organize his backline and likely make 2-3 world-class saves to preserve points.
Thiago Helguera (Mirandés):
The young Uruguayan midfielder is the engine room for Mirandés. In a game likely to be fought in the mud of midfield, his ability to break up play and launch counters will be vital for the visitors.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Fan Reactions
Málaga Fans:
“Pellicer is gone, finally. Now no more excuses. We have to beat the bottom team at home!”
“If we lose to Mirandés, we are going down. This is a final.”
Mirandés Fans:
“Galván needs time, but we don’t have time. We need points.”
“Málaga are in chaos. This is the perfect time to play them.”
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Where to Watch
- Spain: LaLiga TV Hypermotion
- USA: ESPN+
- India: FanCode
- UK: LaLigaTV
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Match-Defining Factors
- The “New Manager” Bounce (or lack thereof): Málaga have an interim; Mirandés have a new boss. Usually, the team with the fresher change (Málaga) gets a short-term energy spike.
- Early Goal Atmosphere: If Málaga score early, La Rosaleda will rock. If Mirandés score first, the toxic atmosphere could turn against the home players.
- Discipline: Both teams have players suspended (Montero, Murillo). In a high-pressure relegation scrap, a red card is a very real possibility.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Prediction
Score Prediction: Málaga CF 1–1 CD Mirandés
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Neither defense can keep a clean sheet right now).
- Total Cards: Over 5.5 Cards (High stakes + aggressive refereeing in Spain).
Analysis: Málaga are in disarray, and while the manager change might bring energy, their injury list is too long to ignore. Mirandés have goals in them but can’t defend. A nervy, scrappy draw that helps neither team seems the most likely outcome.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — Final Word
This is the definition of a “six-pointer.” Málaga CF are trying to hit the reset button mid-season, while Mirandés are desperate to claw their way to safety. Expect a tense, physical battle where fear of losing outweighs the desire to win. It won’t be pretty, but for these two historic clubs, survival is the only thing that matters.
Málaga CF vs Mirandés — FAQs
When is the Málaga vs Mirandés match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 23 November 2025, at 20:00 CET.21
Who is the new Málaga manager?
Sergio Pellicer was dismissed this week. Juan Francisco Funes has taken charge as interim manager.22
Is Luismi playing?
No, key midfielder Luismi is out with a face injury.23
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can stream the match live on the FanCode app and website.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Will the manager sack wake up Málaga, or will Mirandés steal the points? Drop your predictions below!
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