Málaga CF is preparing for its next match against Real Sociedad, scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The objective of the team led by Juanfran Funes is to offer a first victory after its return to the First Division and return joy to the fans of La Rosaleda. However, uncertainty over the availability of Juan Cruz, the Argentine winger, could affect the lineup.
Juan Cruz arrived at the club during the summer market as an important bet, with the only investment of 300,000 euros in his loan to Leganés. His arrival was expected to bring dynamism and quality to the attack, but so far his performance has not met expectations. The player has started on several occasions, contributing with an assist against Villarreal and generating a penalty after a cross that caused a foul by Levante. Even so, his pace of play has been irregular.
In the last call-up, Cruz was excluded from the team that faced Espanyol due to muscle discomfort in the femoral biceps of his right leg. During training, the forward has entered and left the group, indicating that his recovery is not complete. The medical staff has been working with other injured players, such as Murillo, Ochoa and Lobete, but Cruz's condition remains uncertain.
Coach Juanfran Funes has expressed his concern about the evolution of Cruz, whom he considers a key player for the future of Málaga. Despite the doubt, the coach has not ruled out his participation in the match against Real Sociedad. If the winger is not available, Haitam could occupy his position on the left wing, although the coach maintains the option of deploying Cruz in any position on the attacking front.
Málaga CF will continue to evaluate Juan Cruz's physical condition in the coming days. The final decision on his inclusion in the starting lineup will be made once the medical staff confirms that the player is fully recovered and ready to compete. Meanwhile, the team is focused on fine-tuning its defensive and offensive strategy to face Real Sociedad in the hopes of achieving its first victory of the season.