The Blue and Whites will begin their journey back to First Division with a clash against an English opponent, repeating a preseason pattern from 2025 against Oxford United Football Club. This time, the venue will be Algeciras to face 'The Foxes', champions of the Premier League in 2016 and currently in the English Football League One.
The club will soon provide details regarding public attendance for this match. The game marks Málaga CF's first encounter as a First Division team against a club with a notable European history, which a decade ago won the English league under Claudio Ranieri, featuring players like Vardy, Mahrez, Kanté, and Drinkwater.
Despite its glorious past, Leicester City is currently facing difficult times after two consecutive relegations. The club, which started the 2024/25 Premier League season, received a sanction in early February 2026 for non-compliance with financial regulations, leading to another relegation.
Regarding sporting planning, sporting director Loren Juarros has outlined the Málaga CF's roadmap. "LaLiga must start on the 13th. There won't be many matches. We need to be calm. There hasn't been much time to organize. We will focus on training," he stated, adding that the season is long and workload will be managed. The intention is for the team to concentrate in Estepona.
Juarros also assessed the league's return calendar, mentioning potential date changes due to the World Cup. "FIFA announced that the championship start would be delayed by a week for teams in those conditions. The positive aspect would be an extra week of preparation," he noted, while also warning about the possibility of playing matches in quick succession against rivals like Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.
