LaLiga 2 Promotion Play-Off Final | First Leg | Sunday, 14 June 2026 Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga, Spain | Referee: TBC
Nothing went in. Ninety minutes of an Andalusian derby at La Rosaleda with promotion to La Liga at stake — and nothing went in. Zero-zero.
That is the first leg done. The second leg is in six days at Almeria. Everything is still to play for.
Both clubs will have complicated feelings about Sunday. Malaga had home advantage and the crowd behind them. Almeria had the better league finish — third to Malaga’s fourth, one point ahead at the end of the regular season. Both came here knowing a goal conceded would be a problem. Neither could find one to score.
The context going in was enormous. Malaga have not played in La Liga since the 2017-18 season. Eight years in the lower divisions. A club of that history and fanbase playing second-division football while clubs they once competed against went far beyond them. The return to the top flight is the obsession. Everything this season has pointed toward Sunday at La Rosaleda.
Almeria were relegated from La Liga at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and immediately set about returning. This is their shot. Their season under Rubi has been solid if not spectacular — 74 points in the regular season, third place, a promotion play-off path that has included some uncomfortable moments. A 3-2 win over Castellon in the promotion group most recently. A loss to Sporting Gijon before that.
Carlos Ruiz Rubio has been Malaga’s standout player — four goals and an assist across their last five matches. The primary threat Almeria needed to contain. For most of Sunday, they contained him.
Sergio Arribas Calvo leads Almeria’s attack and has been among the more creative players in the division. He created moments without finding the decisive ball in behind Malaga’s defence. Stefan Dzodzic has been quietly influential in Almeria’s midfield across the promotion group. Neither player made the difference at La Rosaleda.
The match had the feel you would expect from a high-stakes playoff first leg. Caution from both sides early. Malaga worked the ball through midfield with Alfonso Herrero marshalling from the back. The back four of Puga, Murillo, Montero and Rafita held their shape and gave Almeria’s forwards nothing clean. Dani Lorenzo and Rafa Rodríguez screened in front of them. Carlos Dotor and Adrián Niño tried to connect with Malaga’s wide players without much success.
Almeria had their moments in the first half. A set piece delivery that caused brief alarm. A transition that broke quickly through midfield before being snuffed out. Nothing that seriously threatened La Rosaleda’s goalkeeper.
The second half opened with more urgency. Malaga pushed higher knowing a goal before the break at Almeria’s ground would be crucial. Larrubia drove at the Almeria defence a couple of times and won corners that came to nothing. Aarón Ochoa was involved when Malaga got the ball wide but the cross never found anyone in the right position.
Almeria’s concern going into the second leg is the same as it was before this game — their defence has leaked. Seven goals conceded in five promotion group matches is not the kind of record that gives you comfort when you know you have to go to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos and potentially keep a clean sheet to force extra time or penalties if the tie is level. Arrivals from the bench changed the rhythm of the second half without changing the scoreline.
Both sides left La Rosaleda with what they came for, more or less. Malaga wanted to keep it tight and not give Almeria an away goal. Done. Almeria wanted to avoid losing the first leg on a hostile ground. Done.
The tie is level. Everything goes to Almeria on June 20. One match to decide who returns to La Liga after years in the second tier. The Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos will be packed. The noise will be different from Sunday’s at La Rosaleda.
Of the 30 previous meetings between these two Andalusian rivals, Almeria have won 12, Malaga 9, and 9 have ended in draws. Sunday was another one for that column.
For live LaLiga 2 scores and Spanish football coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full promotion play-off bracket and fixtures at the official LaLiga website.
Malaga 0-0 Almeria LaLiga 2 Promotion Play-Off Final, First Leg | Sunday, 14 June 2026 Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga | Half-time: 0-0
Malaga (4-4-2): Alfonso Herrero; Carlos Puga, Diego Murillo, Francisco Montero, Rafita; David Larrubia, Dani Lorenzo, Rafa Rodríguez, Aarón Ochoa; Carlos Dotor, Adrián Niño
Second leg: Almeria vs Malaga | Friday, 20 June 2026 | Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, Almeria
H2H: Almeria 12 wins — Malaga 9 wins — 9 draws from 30 meetings
