Málaga CF and UD Almería face each other in the first leg of the promotion play-off final to the First Division at La Rosaleda stadium. The home coach, Juanfran Funes, might implement rotations in his starting lineup after a demanding recent tie. Players like Adrián Niño could start ahead of Chupete, and further changes in midfield or on the flanks are not ruled out.
The probable lineups for the match are: for Málaga, Alfonso Herrero; Puga, Murillo, Montero, Rafita; Izan Merino, Dotor; Larrubia, Dani Lorenzo, Joaquín; and Adrián Niño. UD Almería will field Andrés Fernández; Luna, Ely, Bonini, Muñoz; Lopy, Dzodic; Baptistao, Arribas, Embarba; and Miguel de la Fuente.
The match will be refereed by Salvador Lax Franco, a 35-year-old official from the Murcian committee in his third season in the Second Division. He previously refereed Málaga CF twice this season (against Granada with a 2-2 result and in Cádiz with a 0-3). For UD Almería, he has officiated three games: victories against Eibar (3-1) and Real Sociedad B (5-1), and a 0-0 draw in Burgos. It was in this latter match, on matchday 39, that controversy arose over a potential handball by Bonini that was ruled a corner kick, indicating a judgment that, according to some interpretations, superseded VAR.
Both teams share a significant history of player transfers between them. Players such as Dani, Sousa, Cidoncha, Jon Bakero, Dorado, Míchel, and Calleja have played for both clubs under their different names. Others like Bravo, Juanito, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Portillo, Casado, Charles, Yanis Rahmani, Peybernes, Sekou, Appiah, Fran Villalba, and Nelson Monte have played for UD Almería. Málaga's Carlos Puga also came through Almería's youth ranks. Coaches like Pepe Cayuela, Javi Gracia, and Pepe Mel managed both clubs. Additionally, Emilio, Onofre, Castillo, and Diego López were with Club Deportivo Málaga and Almería CF, while Esteban Vigo, a former CD Málaga player, coached both Almería teams in different periods.
