Málaga CF 2-2 Al-Ittihad: Blues Rally from 0-2 to Earn Preseason Draw
Málaga CF 2-2 Al-Ittihad ended in a spirited comeback at Marbella Football Center as Málaga recovered from two early goals to draw, with Calero, Juan Cruz and José Salinas making their club debuts.
Málaga CF rescued a 2-2 draw against Al-Ittihad in their second preseason friendly at the Marbella Football Center, overturning a two-goal deficit after a shaky start. The match, watched by around 1,000 spectators, featured first appearances in the blanquiazul shirt for Fernando Calero, Juan Cruz and José Salinas, plus extended runs for several Atlético Malagueño prospects. Head coach Juanfran Funes saw his side struggle early but stage an energetic second-half recovery that produced two quick goals and several late chances.
Early setback leaves Málaga trailing inside a minute
The game began disastrously for Málaga when Al-Ittihad struck inside the opening minute after a turnover on the edge of the Málaga area. Bergwijn capitalized on the loose possession to put the visitors ahead, handing Málaga an immediate uphill task. The early concession unsettled the home side, who nevertheless began to find moments of control as the first half progressed.
Málaga grew into the match and created a string of opportunities, with Neftali Chupete and Eneko Jauregui combining on several promising moves. Rafa Rodríguez and Jesús Lobete both tested the Al-Ittihad defence and goalkeeper with long-range efforts that narrowly missed. Just as Málaga appeared to be shifting the momentum, Al-Ittihad doubled their lead through a powerful strike from Ilenikhena that beat Carlos López and sent the teams into the interval 2-0 down.
Full-backs and signings make first appearances in Málaga line-up
Juanfran Funes named a starting eleven that blended newcomers and existing first-team players, giving debuts to Fernando Calero, Juan Cruz and José Salinas in the blanquiazul shirt. Carlos López took the goalkeeper spot, while the back line included Puga, Calero, Recio and Dani Sánchez ahead of a midfield featuring David Larrubia and Rafa Rodríguez. Up front, Chupete partnered Eneko Jauregui to lead the attack.
Those selections reflected Funes’s intent to assess both experienced signings and homegrown talent during the build-up to the season. Atlético Malagueño players were also given minutes, allowing the coaching staff to monitor depth and fitness across the squad. The mixture of faces provided useful information for the technical staff before more competitive fixtures commence.
Second-half overhaul sparks immediate improvement
Funes responded at halftime by making wholesale changes that altered Málaga’s tempo and control of the match. Carlos López remained in goal, but Juani, Izan Merino, Otu, José Salinas, Haitam, Carlos Dotor, Dani Lorenzo, Joaquín Muñoz, Juan Cruz and Adrián Niño entered the fray. The substitutions had an immediate effect as Málaga began to dominate possession and territory.
The pressure paid off in the 54th minute when Carlos Dotor won the ball high up the pitch and set up Adrián Niño, whose shot deflected off a defender and slipped into the net to reduce the deficit. The goal injected belief into the home side and signalled that the pattern of the game had shifted decisively in Málaga’s favour.
Quick response levels the score; Juan Cruz leaves with injury
Málaga needed little time to complete the turnaround after the opening second-half goal. Juan Cruz showed intent with a long-range effort that tested the opposition, then instigated the move that led to the equaliser. Adrián Niño combined with Joaquín Muñoz, who finished calmly to make it 2-2 in the 59th minute and spark cheers from the Marbella crowd.
The positive momentum was tempered by a setback when Juan Cruz, who had only been on the pitch for around twenty minutes, picked up discomfort in the back of his right leg and was forced off. Aarón Ochoa came on as his replacement. The club will monitor Cruz’s condition during the upcoming recovery period to determine the extent of the issue ahead of the next training block.
Haitam and substitutes push for a winning goal late on
With Málaga in control, several substitutes pushed for a winner and created the clearest late openings. Haitam was particularly influential, testing the goalkeeper with a powerful strike from distance and later heading narrowly wide in two of the most dangerous moments of the closing stages. Joaquín Muñoz also combined well in advanced positions, linking play and drawing fouls that disrupted Al-Ittihad’s attempts to settle.
Despite sustained pressure and a succession of attacking phases, Málaga could not find the final pass or finish to complete the comeback. The 2-2 scoreline held to the final whistle, capping a second consecutive preseason draw but offering tangible signs of progress after a difficult first half.
Match details, discipline and immediate schedule
The official referee for the encounter was Francisco Fernández Cintas, who issued a yellow card to Aljedani in the Al-Ittihad camp. Attendance at the Marbella Football Center was recorded at approximately 1,000 spectators, and the fixture provided useful match minutes for both clubs during the preseason window. The official sequence of goals saw Bergwijn open the scoring in the 1st minute, Ilenikhena extend it in the 34th minute, Adrián Niño reply in the 54th minute and Joaquín Muñoz complete the equaliser in the 59th minute.
On the disciplinary and squad front, Málaga rotated heavily after the interval, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate multiple tactical setups and player combinations. The technical team confirmed that the squad will return to training on Friday before taking the weekend for rest and heading to their Estepona training camp on Monday as planned.
Málaga’s second preseason friendly offered a full view of the squad’s character, with early defensive lapses offset by an authoritative response after the break. The debuts of Calero, Juan Cruz and José Salinas and the positive contributions from the substitutes provide Funes with options as the club completes preparations for the competitive campaign ahead.
