Málaga CF Face Al-Ittihad in Marbella in Their Second Pre-Season Test

Málaga CF will play their second pre-season match this Thursday, 30 July, against Al-Ittihad, in a fixture that will take place at the Marbella Football Center from 7:00 p.m..

The match will be broadcast live on 101 Televisión Málaga and can also be followed minute by minute on the Málaga Hoy website.

The game was initially scheduled for 8:00 p.m., but was brought forward by one hour due to the needs of the Saudi side. For Málaga, it will be another opportunity to continue fine-tuning the squad after their pre-season opener against Leicester.

A Highly Demanding Opponent

Al-Ittihad arrive as one of the most important clubs in Saudi football. Based in Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, the black-and-yellow side have an impressive domestic and international record, with 14 league titles, 15 national cups, one super cup and two AFC Champions League titles.

The Saudi club has also become one of the major players in the transfer market in recent years. According to Málaga Hoy, only Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli have recorded a higher net spend than Al-Ittihad in Saudi football over the last five years, with investment close to €395 million.

Familiar Names for European Football Fans

The Jeddah-based team includes several players with experience in top European leagues. Among them are names such as Moussa Diaby, Steven Bergwijn and Houssem Aouar, as well as former LaLiga players including Predrag Rajkovic and Youssef En-Nesyri, who returns to Málaga after his time at La Rosaleda.

International stars such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho have also recently been associated with the club, reflecting the sporting and financial growth of Saudi football in recent seasons.

An Important Test for Málaga

Beyond the result, the match will allow Málaga CF to keep building match fitness, test tactical variations and measure their competitive level against a side featuring top-level players.

The clash in Marbella is set to be one of the most demanding fixtures of the Blue and Whites’ summer schedule and will help the coaching staff continue shaping the team ahead of a new season full of ambition.

Practical Information

Match: Málaga CF vs Al-Ittihad
Date: Thursday, 30 July
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Marbella Football Center
TV broadcast: 101 Televisión Málaga
Online coverage: Minute-by-minute updates on Málaga Hoy
Context: Málaga CF’s second pre-season match

Information source: Málaga Hoy