With Euro 2024 and the Copa America ongoing, it's incredible to think that last night the play-off final in the third tier of Spanish football took place. Malaga, who have endured a fall from grace in recent years, faced Gimnastic.
The first leg finished 1-0 to Malaga but the second leg last night was a much more thrilling affair and it went all the way to extra time after Gimnastic won 1-0 inside 90 minutes.
After doubling their lead early on in extra time, Gimnastic looked set for La Liga2 only for Malaga to score two goals in the second half of extra time to steal promotion away from them.
The winner, which was scored by Antonio Cordero, was scored in the 121st minute which sparked incredible scenes in the away end.
🇪🇸😍 This is the emotion of Malaga fans after their team got promoted to the second tier of Spanish football…
In 2012/13 they got to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and was doing well in La Liga.
Loyal fans through thick and thin. 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/C15QcVZZFe
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) June 22, 2024
Malaga fans gather at airport to welcome back the team
The team celebrated long into the night in Tarragona before boarding a flight back to Malaga in the early hours of the morning. Little do they know that the party was only just beginning as thousands of Malaga fans, who had been celebrating in the streets of Malaga all night, descended on the airport to welcome the team back.
In videos shared on social media, thousands of Malaga fans were seen both inside he airport terminal and outside singing songs and waving flags.
🇪🇸👏 Málaga fans at 5:30am to welcome their team back at the AIRPORT, after being promoted to second tier! 💙🤍
Crazy scenes and fantastic support. ✈️✨ pic.twitter.com/1dWR7oXrFL
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) June 23, 2024
It's been an emotional decade for Malaga fans, who have always retained a strong fanbase despite their difficulties. It was only eleven years ago that they reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League but financial woes saw the team plummet to the third tier of Spanish football last season.
Earlier this season, the club's majority owner, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Tahni and several former executives were prosecuted due to financial mismanagement.