Málaga's Promotion Quest
Málaga defeats Las Palmas in tough match, advances to promotion playoff against Almería
Anonymous
Málaga CF has eliminated UD Las Palmas from the LaLiga Hypermotion promotion playoffs, setting up an all-Andalusian final against UD Almería. The second leg at a sold-out La Rosaleda — over 30,000 fans — was a tense affair, with Las Palmas pushing hard for a comeback that never came, according to Informacion.es.
Málaga advance on aggregate thanks to their 1-0 away win in the first leg on June 7. They will now face Almería in a two-legged final, with the first leg on June 14 and the decisive second leg on June 21 in Almería.
Goalkeeper Herrero Locks the Door in Second Half
Las Palmas, coached by Luis García, dominated possession at 62% but could not find the goal they needed. Striker Jesé came agonizingly close in the 88th minute, hitting the post. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero was the standout figure for Málaga, making three critical saves to keep Las Palmas out, earning him the nickname
Coach Juan Funes made a decisive tactical switch in the final 20 minutes, dropping into a deep defensive block. His side enters the final on a 10-match unbeaten run. Luis García had urged his players to "enjoy the journey" and maintain "mental balance," but the strategy could not unlock Málaga's disciplined back four, La Opinion de Murcia noted.
Chupete's Away Goal Proved the Season's Most Important Strike
The margin between these two sides came down to a single goal. Forward "Chupete" scored the only goal of the tie in the first leg at Estadio Gran Canaria on June 7. That 1-0 away win gave Málaga the aggregate lead they never relinquished, El Periódico de Aragón reported.
Veteran midfielder Jonathan Viera was brought on as a substitute in both legs to try to spark a Las Palmas fightback. It was not enough. Referee Andrés Fuentes Molina issued 6 yellow cards in a high-tension second half, above his season average of 5.13 per match.
Las Palmas Face Financial Strain After Missing Promotion
The defeat is a heavy blow for Las Palmas. The club was relegated from La Liga in May 2025, finishing 19th. Their budget for next season depends heavily on top-flight TV money. Missing out on immediate promotion puts serious strain on their finances for 2026-27, Diario de Ibiza reported.
Critics in the Canary Islands are questioning Luis García's "mental calm" approach, asking whether his philosophy lacked urgency at the decisive moments. Las Palmas had entered the first leg as slight betting favorites at odds of 2.15, but those odds collapsed to 4.50 after losing at home.
An All-Andalusian Final Worth up to €60 Million
Málaga's run to the final is seen as a historic revival. The club spent time in Spain's third tier in recent years after severe financial problems. Local media is calling the playoff run "the resurrection of Malaguismo," El Correo Gallego reported. La Rosaleda was described as a "cauldron" on Tuesday night.
Almería, who finished 3rd in the regular season, eliminated CD Castellón on June 9. As the higher seed, they will host the decisive second leg on June 21. A return to Primera División is worth an estimated €50-60 million in broadcasting rights and commercial deals. Málaga's official stance has pushed back against what they called "artificial hostility" on social media, urging a "cordial" final, LNE reported.
Sentiment
NeutralNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
10
Articles
0
Reach
10
A
AnonymousAuthor
