Málaga CF are preparing for their second home match of the season needing to secure their first points against an in-form Levante. The Matchday 4 fixture in LaLiga EA Sports will be officiated by Luis Bestard Servera, who will make his top-flight debut, as reported by Sport.es.

Who is the debutant referee for Málaga CF?

Luis Bestard Servera, aged 32, will take charge of a Primera División match for the first time when Málaga CF host Levante at La Rosaleda. The Balearic official was promoted to the elite refereeing category last season, mirroring the Málaga CF club's own ascent. La Opinión de Málaga detailed that Bestard Servera has previously refereed Málaga on four occasions, all in lower divisions.

His record with the team is positive, featuring two wins and a draw from his appointments. He has never officiated a Levante match before. His appointment comes after overcoming some physical issues at the start of the campaign.

What are Málaga CF aiming for against Levante?

Málaga CF, currently bottom without any points, are looking to climb off the foot of the table with the support of their home fans at La Rosaleda. Mundo Deportivo highlighted that their opponents, Levante, arrive in high spirits after thrashing Betis 5-2 in the previous round. Juanfran Funes's team have had a tough start with defeats against Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid.

The manager confirmed that the latest signings, Berrocal, Adam Aznou and Cajuste, will be in the squad and some could feature. For Pablo Martínez it will be a special match as he faces his former club, where he was captain. Málaga have several significant absences, including Lobete and Álvaro Ochoa, who require surgery. You can check the full squad status on our injuries page.

How did the defeat to Real Madrid unfold?

In their previous trip to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Málaga CF fell to a 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid on August 30. Reuters reported that the hosts scored three goals inside the first 30 minutes, with Jude Bellingham opening the scoring. An own goal from goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero and a Kylian Mbappe volley sealed the match before halftime.

Arda Guler wrapped up the rout in added time. The Málaga CF side tried to respond with a Joaquín Muñoz effort that struck the crossbar, but their resistance was broken early. This defeat maintains a negative statistic for Málaga, who have still never won at the Bernabéu in 42 visits.

What were the key stats from the Bernabéu match?

Managing Madrid compiled several significant statistics following the match. Málaga CF have never secured a victory at Real Madrid's stadium, the opponent against whom they hold the longest unbeaten home streak in La Liga. Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, is averaging a goal involvement every 61 minutes this season.

Real Madrid have won their first three league games for the fourth time this decade, following the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2025/26 campaigns. Herrero's own goal was the first by a goalkeeper in La Liga since 2016. The team now turns its focus to the next fixture on their schedule.

After the Levante match, Málaga CF will not play again at La Rosaleda until November 29, when they host Athletic Club. The team faces a series of away trips before that encounter, which you can follow in our standings section. The squad will work to correct errors and find the necessary consistency in the top flight.