Antequera took a 30-28 victory over Málaga in a club friendly match on 15 August 2026. The away side held their nerve in the closing stages to secure all three points on the road. It was a result that fits with their recent pattern — competitive games decided by narrow margins.
By then, Málaga had already shown signs of fragility. Their last five fixtures before this friendly included four defeats, with only a single win against Eivissa on 9 May. They had been conceding heavily at times, letting in 38 goals against Balonmano Soria in their penultimate match.
Antequera's form has been more mixed. They had won against Puerto Sagunto and Triana in their last five, but also suffered losses to Alcobendas, BM Sinfin and Valladolid. The 2025 results showed a side capable of both high-scoring affairs and tight defensive battles.
And here's the thing — this friendly did little to clarify either team's trajectory heading into the new campaign. Málaga's defensive vulnerabilities were evident in their recent run, while Antequera's inconsistency meant they could not claim momentum from this result alone.
The scoreline suggested a game that stayed close throughout, with neither side able to pull away. Antequera's away end never stopped pressing, but Málaga kept their side in it until the final moments. The visitors' ability to close out games will be worth watching.