Málaga achieved its first victory in the Copa del Rey after beating Sporting de Alcázar 3‑0, thanks to a double from Chupe and a goal from Dani Lorenzo. The match, held at the Manuel Delgado Meco stadium in Alcázar de San Juan, was played on artificial grass in front of a crowd of approximately 4,800 spectators.
The match began with Sporting de Alcázar that showed resistance during the first half, keeping the score at 0‑0 until the 70th minute. The visitors, made up of players such as Walter Cáceres, Antonio Avilés and Néstor Ruefli, managed to maintain possession and create opportunities, although without scoring. The Malaga team, with an unusual lineup that included the Swede Ctuvo, Eneko Jauregui, Berrocal, Alex Pastor and the youth squad Juani, had difficulty generating clear chances in the first phase of the match.
Coach Juanfran Funes' change of strategy midway through the game made the difference. Málaga introduced players such as Larrubia, Chupe and Haitam, and later Dani Lorenzo, which caused increased pressure on Sporting. In the 70th minute, Chupe converted a penalty, giving Málaga the lead. Just seven minutes later, in the 77th minute, referee Víctor García Verdura sent off local Antonio Avilés with a direct red card for kicking Haitam, reducing Sporting to ten players.
With the advantage and the player sent off, Málaga increased its dominance of the game. Chupe scored his second goal in the 80th minute, and Dani Lorenzo sealed the result with a goal in the 87th minute, ensuring the elimination of Sporting de Alcázar and Málaga's passage to the next round of the competition. The referee also called several fouls and sent off local and visiting players, but the expulsion of Avilés was the decisive factor that changed the course of the match.
With this victory, Málaga advances to the second phase of the Copa del Rey, while Sporting de Alcázar is out of the competition. The victory also represents a moment of joy for the Malaga club, which has not yet managed to win in the League, although it now has a positive result in the cup. Málaga's next challenge will be to face a higher-class rival in the next round, where experience and tactics will be key to continue advancing.