Castellón drops points in Ceuta, Málaga strengthens position in La Liga race. Castellón failed to secure a victory in Ceuta and lost crucial points. Málaga defeated Sporting and boosted its promotion chances. The competition for a spot in La Liga remains intense.
One of the most intense matches of the 40th round of LaLiga Hypermotion has concluded in Ceuta: Castellón failed to defeat the local team at the Alfonso Murube stadium and lost two crucial points in the race for direct promotion. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, immediately affecting the league intrigue — the competition for a spot in La Liga EA Sports has now become even fiercer.
In a parallel match, Málaga came from behind to defeat Sporting 2-1 at home. The decisive goals for the Andalusians were scored by Chupe and Joaquín Muñoz, who turned the game around after Dubasin's accurate strike. This victory allowed Málaga to strengthen its position among the promotion contenders and increase the pressure on their rivals.
The refereeing team in Ceuta was led by Alonso De Ena, with Pulido Santana overseeing the VAR system. Málaga's starting lineup included Alfonso Herrero, Puga, Recio, Einar, Rafita, Rafa Rodríguez, Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo, Larrubia, Joaquín Muñoz, and Chupe. Ceuta fielded Guille Vallejo, Anuar, Carlos Hernández, Bodiger, Diego González, Youness, Marino, Kuki Zalazar, Rubén Díez, Konrad, and Marcos Fernández. Both coaches relied on their strongest lineups, leaving no room for experiments in such an important round.
A key detail was the support from the fans: Ceuta allocated 337 tickets for guests from Málaga at 20 euros each. This allowed Andalusian fans to support their team away from home, which is especially valuable at the end of the season, when every match can be decisive.
There is also ongoing discussion in Ceuta regarding the future of head coach José Juan Romero. The club's management intends to offer him an extension to his contract, which currently runs until 2027. However, according to AS, Romero is being considered as a candidate for a position within Espanyol's structure, which could influence Ceuta's long-term development plans.
In the previous round, Ceuta already played to a draw with Castellón, while Málaga secured a victory over Sporting. These results keep the upper part of the table tightly packed: eight teams are contending for direct promotion, and each round brings new twists. As russpain.com notes, a similar situation with Castellón dropping points has happened before — in one of the previous rounds, the team was also unable to capitalize on its advantage in Ceuta, which only increases the pressure on the leaders.
Historically, Ceuta and Málaga have met on multiple occasions, with both clubs previously playing under different names. Málaga’s last visit to the autonomous city ended in defeat for the visitors, adding extra context to this fixture. This time, the Andalusians are hoping for revenge as they continue their fight to return to the top tier of Spanish football.
For both teams’ fans, this round proved to be one of the most intense of the season. Several decisive matches remain, and any lost points could be critical. Competition in LaLiga Hypermotion is at its peak, and the intrigue in the promotion race remains at the highest level.
LaLiga Hypermotion is Spain’s second-tier division, where teams compete for a place in La Liga EA Sports. In the 2025/26 season, the battle for direct promotion is particularly fierce: eight clubs retain a real chance of reaching the top division. For Castellón and Málaga, every upcoming match is a test of resilience, while for Ceuta it is an opportunity to make a name for themselves at the national level.
