Return leg tonight – everything on the line
Málaga take a 1–0 lead into the second leg of the playoff semi-final against Las Palmas at La Rosaleda tonight. David Larrubia's goal in the away leg has given your team a real platform, but the job is only half done (3). The winner of this tie moves one step closer to LaLiga. Kick-off is 21:00 CEST.
How Málaga got here
Three years ago this club was in the third tier. Now you're 90 minutes from a playoff final, with a 1–0 aggregate advantage and a home crowd behind you. The first leg in Gran Canaria was tight and tactical – Larrubia's strike proved enough, and the defence held firm on the road (3). Manager Juanfran Funes has transformed a side that was in the relegation zone when he arrived into genuine promotion contenders.
The Funes factor
The city and the fanbase have rallied around what they're calling the 'Funesbuque' – a nickname that captures the momentum building behind Funes and his squad (4). His approach of giving less regular players a platform in team meetings has built a deep sense of collective buy-in. Midfielder Carlos Dotor has spoken openly about the squad's sky-high confidence heading into this tie.
Squad watch: Jesé concern, playoff inexperience
The one cloud on the horizon is Jesé Rodríguez. The winger came off early in the first leg with hamstring discomfort, and his availability tonight is an open question. Losing his experience would sting – only three players in the squad have ever featured in promotion playoffs before, and one of those hasn't played all season. This is new territory for most of the dressing room.