Almería and Málaga Announce Starting Lineups for Playoff Final. In the playoff final for promotion to La Liga, Almería and Málaga have made significant changes to their lineups. The match at La Rosaleda is played to a sold-out crowd and under maximum tension. The coaches’ decisions could determine the outcome of the season.
The first match of the playoff final for promotion to La Liga has kicked off in Málaga, where Almería and Málaga have announced their starting lineups with notable changes. Almería's head coach Rubi has entrusted Andrés Fernández with the goalkeeper position, while the defense will feature Álex Muñoz, Bonini, Rodrigo Ely, and Chirino. In midfield, Dzodic and Lopy will start, with Embarba and Arnau Puigmal on the wings, the latter replacing Baptistao compared to the previous match. Up front are Arribas and Miguel de la Fuente.
Juanfran Funes of Málaga made three changes after the semifinal against Las Palmas: Niño, Aaron Ochoa, and Rafa Rodríguez returned to the starting lineup, and Herrero took the goalkeeper spot. Murillo and Montero cover the central area, with Carlos Puga and Rafita on the flanks. The midfield features Dani Lorenzo and Larrubia, while Dotor and Niño are responsible for attack.
La Rosaleda is hosting the match today with a full stadium and special support from Málaga fans, who hope to see their team return to the top division after eight years. The club has been actively showcasing the large-scale welcome by fans on social media before the game. The only absence in the home squad is Einar Galilea, allowing Funes to rely on the usual core group.
Almería approaches the final with nearly a full-strength squad, with only André Horta out of the lineup. Rubi's team, known for their powerful attack (85 goals this season), is counting on the effectiveness of Arribas, who has already scored 26 goals and provided seven assists. In the semifinal, Almería overcame Castellón thanks to a comeback win at the end.
In the regular season, the teams each claimed a victory: Málaga won 2-1 at home, while at Almería Stadium the home side triumphed 3-2. Now, Almería has the strategic edge—the second leg will be played on their ground, with support not only from fans but also from the club's management.
For Málaga, this final is a chance to complete their rapid rebuild and return to La Liga two years after relegation from the Segunda. The team has shown strong attacking power: 77 goals this season including playoffs, and Chupe has been among the top scorers, although this time he is not in the starting lineup.
Play-off finals are traditionally among the most intense events in Spanish football. As russpain.com notes, interest in decisive play-off matches remains consistently high, and recent successes by Spanish clubs in other competitions, such as Formula 3, only fuel the excitement around sporting events (more on the race for the lead in Formula 3).
For reference: the Segunda play-off final traditionally determines the last team to join La Liga for the next season. The winner of this two-legged tie earns the right to compete in Spain's top division, which has a major impact on the club's budget, sponsor interest, and infrastructure development. In recent years, promotion to La Liga has been accompanied by significant growth in attendance and investment activity in the region.
