Chupe scored Málaga CF's first goal upon their return to the Primera División. The striker converted a penalty in the 35th minute of a 1-1 draw against Deportivo on Monday, earning the team's first point of the 2026/27 season.
The Andalusian club is back in the top flight after eight years in the Segunda División and Primera RFEF. This offensive milestone was reported by the outlet Sport.es. The current squad, which can be viewed on our squad page, now faces a new chapter among the elite.
Who were the historic first scorers?
The list of players who have opened Málaga CF's scoring account in the top division is long and varied. In the 2000/01 season, Darío Silva had the honour at the Camp Nou, albeit in a 2-1 defeat to FC Barcelona. The Uruguayan repeated the feat the following year, scoring the first goal in a 3-2 win over Real Betis at La Rosaleda.
The 2002/03 campaign began spectacularly with Kiki Musampa. The midfielder netted a hat-trick in a comeback win against Recreativo de Huelva, when the team was losing 2-0 in the first half. Fans can review more historical data in our stats section.
What were the first goals like in the 21st century?
Portuguese forward Edgar was the first scorer in two consecutive seasons. In 2003/04, his goal came on the fourth matchday against a goalkeeper of Iker Casillas's calibre, in a match Real Madrid won 1-3 in Málaga. The following season, Edgar again opened the scoring, this time in a 1-2 away win at Real Mallorca, where Wanchope also scored.
Gerardo García León became the first Spanish player this century to achieve this milestone. He did so from the penalty spot on the second matchday of the 2005/06 season, in a home game against Espanyol at La Rosaleda.
| Season | Player | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000/01 | Darío Silva | FC Barcelona | 2-1 (L) |
| 2001/02 | Darío Silva | Real Betis | 3-2 (W) |
| 2002/03 | Kiki Musampa | Recreativo | 2-3 (W) |
| 2003/04 | Edgar | Real Madrid | 1-3 (L) |
| 2004/05 | Edgar | Real Mallorca | 1-2 (W) |
| 2005/06 | Gerardo García León | Espanyol | 1-0 (W) |
The table shows a selection of the first scorers in Málaga CF's early Primera seasons this century.
What happened last season?
In the promotion-winning 2025/26 season, the honour fell to Adrián Niño. The forward scored the season's first goal on the opening matchday of the 2024/25 Liga Hypermotion, in another 1-1 draw, this time against Eibar. That point was the start of the journey that ultimately brought the club back to where it is now.
What does this start mean for Málaga?
Earning a point on the first matchday back in the top flight is a positive result. Chupe's goal is worth not just a point, but it marks the restart of the club's journey among the elite. The team showed character to draw a tough match. The full season schedule is available on our fixtures page. The immediate objective is to consolidate their place in the division, match by match, starting with the next round of games visible in the standings.
