23 kilometers, two cities, and a derby that could change the course of Estepona's season

Some games are prepared for throughout the week.

And some games begin long before the referee blows the opening whistle.

This is one of them.

Marbella and Estepona are separated by just 23 kilometers.

Two cities on the Costa del Sol.

Two team crests.

Two fan bases.

And ninety minutes during which the distance between them will be much shorter than any sports rivalry.

CD Estepona heads into the derby on the heels of two consecutive wins.

First, a 3-1 win over Don Benito.

Then, a 3-2 victory against Atlético Central.

Six points.

Six goals scored.

And a sense that things are starting to turn around for Manolo Sánchez’s team.

Marbella FC, on the other hand, heads into the match after going three matchdays without a win, with two consecutive losses and a need to reconnect with its fans.

On Sunday at 12:00 p.m., the two teams will face off at the Banús Football Center, also known as La Dama de Noche.

Matchday 7 of Group IV in the Second Federation.

A provincial derby.

And more than just three points at stake.

Because Estepona wants to prove that its resurgence is here to stay.

Because Marbella needs to halt its downward spiral.

And because there’s a special twist that adds another layer to the match: Manolo Sánchez, Estepona’s coach, returns to the city where he was born.

The stage is set.

Now it’s time to see who can dictate the pace of the game.

Estepona Believes Again in What It’s Building

The start of the season hasn’t been easy.

The 0-0 draw against Xerez left some promising signs, but also highlighted the need to turn their hard work into points.

Then came the 1-4 loss to Linares Deportivo.

A tough defeat.

The kind that forces you to reflect on what went wrong and look for answers.

The team found those answers in Puente Genil.

They won 0-2.

And afterward, although they lost 2-1 to Tenerife B, they competed until the very end in a match decided by two penalty kicks converted by Omar Sánchez.

The definitive answer came at home.

The 3-1 win over Don Benito allowed Estepona to record its first victory at Muñoz Pérez.

Ariel Herrero scored two goals from the penalty spot, and Ale Contreras sealed the victory.

A week later, the team won again.

Atlético Central managed to tie the score twice, but Alfonso Candelas scored twice and Sandji Baradji netted the decisive 3-2 goal in the 80th minute.

Two matches.

Two wins.

Six points.

And a team that’s starting to find the consistency it needs to compete in this division.

The standings are beginning to reflect that as well.

Estepona has ten points after six matchdays and sits in sixth place in Group IV.

There’s still a long way to go in the season.

We shouldn’t confuse a good run with a goal already achieved.

But we do need to acknowledge what’s happening.

The team has bounced back.

It’s winning at home again.

It has strung together two wins.

And now it faces a different challenge.

Because winning two games in a row is important.

But doing so in a derby, on the road, and against an opponent that needs to turn things around takes on a whole new meaning.

Marbella Needs a Response

The opponent also arrives with a story worth telling.

Marbella FC began the season with a 2-2 draw against Atlético Sanluqueño.

They then lost 3-0 to Sevilla Atlético.

The turnaround came on Matchday 3, with a convincing 4-1 victory over Atlético Central.

It seemed like the team was starting to find its footing.

But then came three matchdays without a win.

They drew 0-0 against Salerm Puente Genil.

They lost 0-2 at home to Betis Deportivo.

And last Sunday, they fell 1-0 to CD Badajoz.

Five points out of a possible eighteen.

Six goals scored.

Nine goals conceded.

And two consecutive losses.

That’s the record the Marbella team brings into the derby.

The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they do highlight the need to turn things around.

Marbella hasn’t stopped competing.

Against Badajoz, in fact, their own club described it as an even match, with few scoring chances and a lot of physical play.

The problem was that they couldn’t find the back of the net.

And when a team strings together several negative results, every matchday starts to weigh a little heavier.

The derby, therefore, comes at a delicate moment for the home team.

But it would be a mistake to think that this makes Marbella an easy opponent.

Precisely because they need to win, they may come out with extra intensity.

And because they’re playing at home, in front of their fans, they’ll have plenty of motivation to try to shift the momentum from the very first minute.

Estepona is coming off better results. Marbella is coming in with more at stake.

And that combination could shape the course of the match.

Antonio Calderón: Experience to Shift the Momentum

Marbella began this season with a new coach: Antonio Calderón.

The Cádiz-born coach arrived on the Marbella bench with an extensive track record in Spanish soccer and experience in higher divisions.

His resume includes stints at clubs such as Cádiz, Huesca, Albacete, and Tenerife, as well as several significant promotions.

Among his most recent achievements is a double promotion with Juventud de Torremolinos: from the Third Federation to the Second Federation in 2024 and from the Second Federation to the First Federation in 2025.

He also secured promotion to the First Federation with Balompédica Linense in 2021.

He is not a coach who is unfamiliar with the demands of a season.

He knows what it takes to build a team.

He knows what it takes to compete for titles.

And he knows that a losing streak can’t be turned around with good intentions alone.

Now he faces a particularly demanding test.

His team needs to regain confidence, improve its results, and rediscover the scoring touch that allowed it to score four goals against Atlético Central.

And the schedule has a derby coming up.

A match that could serve to shift the momentum.

But it could also fuel doubts if the result is negative again.

Marbella needs points.

And Estepona must keep that firmly in mind.

Manolo Sánchez returns to a city he knows well

There’s another story behind this match.

And this time, it’s not about the standings.

It’s on the visitors’ bench.

Manolo Sánchez is a native of Marbella.

The Estepona coach will return to his hometown on Sunday to lead his team in one of the most special matches on the provincial schedule.

This is no small matter.

In soccer, some matches hold special significance because of the opponent.

Others, because of where the season stands.

And some, because of the personal circumstances of those involved.

This one meets several of those criteria.

Manolo Sánchez knows the local soccer scene.

He understands the importance of these matches.

And he arrives with a team that’s starting to perform well on the field.

But on Sunday, there will be no room for sentimentality.

Nor for distractions.

The coach will have to prepare for the match just like any other: analyze the opponent, choose the right game plan, and find a way to get his players to compete at their best.

Whatever happens afterward will be up to soccer.

What is clear is that the derby will have a personal element for the Rojillo coach.

Manolo is returning to Marbella, but on Sunday his goal will be to take the three points back to Estepona.

Two Cities Separated by 23 Kilometers

Marbella and Estepona are very close.

Just 23 kilometers separate the two cities.

But soccer turns that distance into something different.

Because each club represents its people.

Because every fan base wants to see their team win.

And because these matchups have a significance that isn’t always reflected in the standings.

The derby doesn’t need a championship game or a promotion battle to be meaningful.

All it takes are two team crests.

Two cities.

And the chance to beat the neighbor.

Marbella is playing at home.

Estepona will have to travel to the Banús Football Center, also known as La Dama de Noche.

And the stands will feature some red-and-white supporters, though in limited numbers.

CD Estepona announced that it had 50 tickets available for its season-ticket holders, provided by Marbella FC, priced at 15 euros each.

Due to high demand, the club had to hold a raffle among its season ticket holders.

It’s a limited number for a match that’s generating excitement among fans of both teams.

But it also shows that there’s a desire to support the team.

The distance is short.

The trip is manageable.

And the match is special.

Now it’s up to the soccer to live up to what this game represents.

There’s a precedent, but the story starts anew

Marbella and Estepona already faced off in the Segunda Federación during the 2023–24 season.

And those two matches ended in Marbella’s favor.

The first match was played on September 24, 2023, at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium.

Marbella won 0-1.

Estepona was reduced to ten players in the 12th minute after Nando Copete was sent off and ended up conceding the only goal of the match in the 77th minute.

The second match took place on February 4, 2024, in Marbella.

This time, there were no goals.

The match ended 0-0.

These are two previous encounters worth remembering.

But it’s also important to put them in perspective.

More than two seasons have passed.

The teams have changed.

The rosters are different.

And the current coaches are approaching the match under different circumstances.

That 0-1 result won’t be replayed on Sunday.

Nor will that 0-0.

A new match will be played.

Estepona comes in off two consecutive wins, while Marbella needs to bounce back.

Past history provides context.

But it doesn’t determine the outcome.

What Could Decide the Derby

Recent results highlight some factors that could shape the match.

The first is scoring efficiency.

Estepona has scored six goals in its last two matches.

Against Don Benito, they scored twice from the penalty spot and sealed the win with a goal by Ale Contreras.

Against Atlético Central, they had to keep pushing after the opponent equalized the score twice.

They ultimately secured the decisive goal from Sandji Baradji in the 80th minute.

The team has shown that it can score.

But it has also shown that it must know how to handle moments when the opponent manages to hurt them.

The second aspect is defensive focus.

Marbella has scored six goals in six matchdays.

That’s not a number that allows us to underestimate their offensive capabilities, especially after the 4-1 win against Atlético Central.

And players like Juanmita, Mizzian, Ohemeng, and Tahiru are part of a roster with the resources to create danger.

The third factor is emotional control.

A derby can turn on a single play.

An early goal.

A card.

A mistake.

A referee’s call.

That’s why Estepona will have to compete with intensity, but without losing their cool.

They must not confuse the importance of the match with the need to settle everything in the opening minutes.

Nor can they allow Marbella’s desperation to drag them into a chaotic match.

The goal isn’t to play the most intense derby. It’s to play the smartest derby.

Home-field advantage also matters

Marbella will be playing in front of their home crowd.

And that matters.

Even if they’re coming off a losing streak, the home team will have the opportunity to use the atmosphere of the game to spark a comeback.

Estepona will have to be prepared for that scenario.

There will be moments when Marbella turns up the pressure.

Others when the match becomes more tightly contested.

And perhaps a phase where the game is decided by small details.

Manolo Sánchez’s team needs to maintain its identity.

Apply pressure when the moment is right.

Attack when there’s space.

And know how to dig in when the opponent manages to take control of the game.

The victory over Atlético Central showed that Estepona can find solutions even when the game gets tough.

Now they need to bring that ability to a different setting.

On the road.

In a derby.

And against an opponent that needs to win.

Sunday will also feature a charitable cause

The match will feature another special touch.

In support of the breast cancer awareness campaign, the Estepona players in the starting lineup will take the field wearing a commemorative jersey linked to the charity initiative organized by the club and the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Estepona.

Afterward, they’ll change into their official uniforms to play the match.

The initiative aims to raise awareness for the campaign and support the local association.

It’s a gesture that deserves recognition.

Because soccer also has a social dimension.

Because clubs are part of the cities they represent.

And because there are causes that go far beyond the results.

On Sunday, there will be sporting rivalry.

Two crests will face off.

And there will be ninety minutes to try to win.

But there will also be a message of support for those fighting a disease that affects thousands of people and families.

The derby doesn’t lose any of its importance because of this.

On the contrary.

It reminds us that soccer is part of something much bigger than the score.

Estepona Has an Opportunity

The red-and-white team comes into the match with ten points.

It has won its last two games.

It has regained its form.

And they’re starting to find some consistency.

Marbella, for its part, needs to snap a three-game winless streak.

The circumstances are different.

But the standings don’t matter.

Neither do the results from previous weeks.

When the referee kicks off the match, everything starts anew.

Estepona will have to prove that its recent victories weren’t just two isolated flashes of brilliance.

Marbella will look to get back on the path that led to its 4-1 win over Atlético Central.

And both teams will have to find solutions when the match gets tough.

Because it will get tough.

Derbies are rarely decided solely by what’s been prepared during the week.

They also demand character.

The ability to bounce back.

And knowing how to capitalize on key moments.

Estepona has already shown it can compete.

Now it has to prove it can do so in Marbella.

Sunday. 12:00 p.m. La Dama de Noche.

Twenty-three kilometers.

Two cities.

Two crests.

And three points on the line.

Marbella wants to halt its slide in results.

Estepona wants to extend its hot streak.

Antonio Calderón needs a turnaround.

Manolo Sánchez returns to his hometown with a team that’s starting to find its footing.

And both sets of fans know that these matches have something special about them.

It’s not a final.

The season has barely begun.

But it is an opportunity.

To pick up points.

To grow.

To gain confidence.

And to show that the work of the past few weeks is paying off.

Estepona comes in on the back of two straight wins.

Marbella comes in needing to turn things around.

The numbers set the stage.

History adds context.

But the outcome is yet to be decided.

On Sunday, there won’t be 23 kilometers separating the two teams.

There will be a field.

A ball.

Ninety minutes.

And a derby waiting to be decided.

Now it’s Estepona’s turn to make its mark.