Racing arrived in Málaga on Friday with a damaged squad and a plan that may still change before kickoff. José Alberto’s side traveled at twelve o'clock for Saturday’s 2 p.m. meeting at La Rosaleda, with Mantilla and Andrés left behind because of injury and several players carrying fitness questions.
That is why the search around Málaga - Racing De Santander has sharpened now: the match is vital, the standings are tight enough to make every result matter, and Racing still have not taken a point away from home. Málaga are bottom without a win, six points separate the two teams, and the home side still have salvation five points away, which gives the game an urgency that goes beyond the calendar before the international break.
José Alberto tried to pull the temperature down after a difficult week. He said football had been in the background after what had happened and what the squad had seen in recent days, and he sent condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel and support to Tenerife. He also rejected the language of finals and maximum pressure, saying it was a little laughable to talk that way after such a week, even while admitting the match is important because all games are.
The absences do not leave him empty-handed, but they do force choices. Hugo Pérez, the 19-year-old reserve full-back, traveled with the squad, along with Maguette after hamstring problems and Manu Hernando after a flu spell, though none of the three were expected to start. Salinas is set to return at left-back after suspension, Pablo Ramón should cover the right side with Íñigo Sainz-Maza a possible option later on, and Agirrezabala is expected in goal behind Pedro Felipe and Belocian. Prati and Iván Martín look fixed in midfield, Vicente would start on the left, Iker Luque on the right, and Sergio Canales and Zabiri are expected to lead the line.
José Alberto said the squad has players ready to cover any absence, but he also admitted that long-term injuries are painful because Álvaro Mantilla matters to the team. Málaga, for their part, may return Recio to the starting XI and could bring back Pablo Martínez and Joaquín Muñoz for minutes, while Juanfran Funes has the option of reshaping the side again, either with two forwards or with Chupe and Adrián Niño ahead of a back four. By Saturday afternoon, the answers will come from the lineup card rather than the talk, and for both clubs that may decide how the international break begins.
