Málaga CF manager Juanfran Funes has used 20 different players in the club's first four La Liga matches of the 2026-27 season. This early rotation, reported by Sport.es, highlights the search for solutions and the depth of the squad available to the coach. Sport.es first reported the story.
Only three players have been ever-present for Málaga CF so far. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero and defenders Rafita and Einar Galilea have each played all 337 possible minutes, while Recio and Chupe have accumulated 334. These five form the core upon which Funes has built the start of the campaign.
Who are the most used players?
Behind that quintet of regular starters, a group of players has seen significant action. David Larrubia Romano has been on the pitch for 304 minutes, starting three matches. Izan Merino, with 293 minutes, and Carlos Puga, with 245, have also begun three games in the starting eleven.
The last matchday, against Levante, brought new faces. José Salinas made his first league appearance of the season. More significant was the debut of Jens Cajuste, who became the twentieth player used by the manager. "Funes ya ha utilizado 20 jugadores en el arranque liguero del Málaga CF," the coach himself stated this week.
Which players are awaiting their chance?
Not all squad members have seen minutes in official competition. Carlos López, Álex Pastor, Adam Aznou and Juan Berrocal are still waiting for their debuts. Aznou and Berrocal are recent signings who are still adapting to contribute. Meanwhile, Adrián Niño is a player from whom more playing time is expected in the coming weeks, according to the Sport.es report.
The injury list also limits options. Ochoa, Diego Murillo and Fernando Calero are injured and unavailable for selection. Ochoa, in fact, underwent surgery on Monday and will be sidelined for a short period. Fans can follow the squad's status on our injuries page.
How does the team approach the upcoming schedule?
Málaga CF faces a run of fixtures that will test their squad rotation. Three consecutive matches against Celta de Vigo, Villarreal and Getafe will demand the maximum from the entire group. In this context, Aznou, Berrocal and Adrián Niño are expected to become new options for the coaching staff.
The team is already looking further ahead, with a notable fixture on the horizon. After this streak, the next home match will be on 29 November 2026 against Athletic Club, a clash already listed in our fixtures calendar. The evolution of the standings table will largely depend on results in these coming weeks. Managing the bench and the gradual integration of players yet to debut will be key to maintaining competitiveness throughout a long season. The immediate challenge is the trip to Balaídos to face Celta.
