Muñoz Pérez wants the first one: CD Estepona seeks the victory against Linares Deportivo that will confirm their progress

There are games that are good for getting started.

And there are others that serve to confirm that what started... is serious.

Tomorrow CD Estepona returns to the Francisco Muñoz Pérez stadium .

Second day.

Second game.

First real opportunity to turn feelings into something more.

Because the opening match against Xerez CD ended in a draw.

A 0-0.

But he also left something more important.

A team that competed.

That he pressured.

That created opportunities.

He didn't hide.

And he ended up leaving the field with the feeling that the three points could have been his.

Now it's time to go back.

And facing them will be Linares Deportivo .

A team that also arrives with one point.

Also with a tie.

Also with the feeling that he could have gotten more out of his first game.

And with a recent history that Estepona knows perfectly well.

Because just a few months ago…

Linares has already experienced what it means to face this team when they decide not to give up.

The first step has already been taken.

Last Saturday's 0-0 draw wasn't perfect.

But it wasn't a bad start either.

Because some draws leave doubts.

And there are ties that leave work to be done.

The one from Estepona left the second.

Manolo Sánchez 's team created chances.

It had phases of dominance.

He pressed up.

He looked for the rival.

And it maintained a recognizable identity from the very first minute.

Fran Martínez also explained that this week.

The new Osasuna goalkeeper, who kept a clean sheet in his official debut, acknowledged that the team left the match against Xerez with pride and highlighted their ability to create chances.

The idea is clear:

create.

Press.

To move forward.

And do it together.

Because if there's one thing Estepona is trying to build, it's not just a squad.

It's a team.

And that takes time.

But it's also starting to be seen.

Now comes the hardest part.

Gain.

Because good feelings are important.

Identity too.

The excitement, even more so.

But football ultimately speaks in points.

And Estepona wants all three.

He needs them.

Not because the season is going to be decided tomorrow.

Not at all.

But also because ambitious teams need to learn how to turn good games into wins.

Xerez dropped a point.

There are three more tomorrow.

And they're at home.

That changes things.

Because Muñoz Pérez is getting ready for another night.

The second one of the season.

And this time with a figure that speaks for itself.

More than 1,600 subscribers.

Historic club record.

More people.

More enthusiasm.

More expectations.

And a stadium that wants to be a protagonist again.

Linares also arrives seeking answers

The opponent is not here for a stroll.

Not at all.

Linares started the season with a 1-1 draw against Ciudad de Lucena at Linarejos.

And the analysis of the match is interesting.

Because for a good part of the first half, the blue team was superior.

He pressed up.

Domino.

He found spaces.

And they took the lead in the 17th minute through Juanma Domínguez , after a great play started by João Paulo .

During those first few minutes, Linares gave the impression of an intense team with clear ideas.

But then the game changed.

Ciudad de Lucena started to have more possession of the ball.

The tie arrived.

And after the break the game opened up.

Linares had chances.

He also had more trouble finding clarity in the final meters.

And when the opponent was reduced to ten players in the 75th minute, an opportunity arose that they also failed to take advantage of.

The match ended 1-1.

And it left a rather distinct impression:

Linares had the game at different times, but failed to close it out.

That is precisely what Estepona will have to watch out for.

Because Miguel de la Fuente 's team has already shown that it can dominate.

Now he will have to do it for a longer period of time.

Miguel de la Fuente has changed the scene

And here's an important detail.

This is not the same Linares as a year ago.

Since Miguel de la Fuente took over as manager, the blue team has found stability.

The coach arrived in January, when the team was fighting to avoid the playout.

And his response was immediate.

Six victories.

Six draws.

Four defeats.

Twenty-four points.

And an eighth-place finish.

Enough for the club to decide to continue with him.

Until 2027.

It's not a coincidence.

Linares has opted to maintain a structure.

For keeping their coach.

For continuing to build.

And that makes tomorrow's opponent a team with a pretty clear idea.

A team that wants to compete.

He knows how to suffer.

And it has already shown that it can change a dynamic.

A team that has also changed

Because Linares has also been working during the summer.

Players such as Álex Fernández, Argüelles, Pavel, Iván Romero, Monty, Moi Becken and Iker Navarro have arrived, while the club has maintained important pieces of its structure.

And some of them already played a leading role on the first day.

Monty.

Argüelles.

Ivan Romero.

Slight.

Juanma.

João Paulo.

Velázquez.

Gio Navarro.

An experienced team.

With youth.

With players capable of playing inside.

And with enough speed to do damage when it finds space.

Linares himself has also retained Miguel de la Fuente and strengthened his coaching staff with Jesús Toscanini as assistant coach and Dani Ortega as physical trainer.

The feeling is clear.

Linares isn't coming to see what's going on.

He's coming to compete.

And Estepona already knows how to hurt him.

Because there is a recent history that deserves to be remembered.

April 19, 2026.

Linarejos.

Linares Deportivo.

CD Estepona.

2-3.

But the result only tells part of the story.

The other is how it was achieved.

Linares took the lead.

Estepona drew.

Linares took the lead again just before halftime.

And Estepona got back up again.

Then came Ariel Herrero 's equalizer.

And finally, David Ballarín appeared.

Minute 79.

2-3.

Game won.

And a victory that, seen in perspective, ended up being much more important than it seemed that afternoon.

Because that team was still fighting to survive.

And that victory was one of the steps that ultimately led Estepona to stay in the league.

Tomorrow the story will be different.

But some of the main players remain the same.

And memory also matters.

Muñoz Pérez wants to start winning

Last season, this stadium ended up celebrating staying in the league.

Now he wants to celebrate something different.

A victory.

The first one.

And there's probably no better place to look for it.

Because the team arrives with one point.

The rival too.

They both need to take a step.

They both have things to prove.

But only one will play at home.

And that matters too.

A lot.

Last Saturday, around 2,500 people once again filled the Muñoz Pérez stadium with football.

Tomorrow the club will call its people again.

And now there are more than 1,600 season ticket holders who have already decided that they want to be there this season.

It's not just a number.

It's an answer.

A response to what happened last year.

To permanence.

To growth.

To the new project.

The feeling that this time it might be different.

There is something still missing

And that's precisely it.

May everything that has been built off the field begin to be reflected on the field.

The structure.

Professionalism.

Continuity.

The staff.

The coaching staff.

The fans.

Everything is ready.

Now it's time to compete.

And win.

Because Fran Martínez himself summed it up very simply this week.

The team creates chances.

The team is moving forward.

The team is entertaining.

Now we have to make sure all of that translates into victories.

And perhaps that's the next step.

Do not change your identity.

Don't change the way you play.

Don't change course.

Simply learn how to convert it into points.

One night to believe again

There are important matches.

And then there are those who begin to set a direction.

Nothing will be decided tomorrow.

But something can start to be seen.

If Estepona manages to win, there will be three points.

Nothing else.

And nothing less.

But there will also be a confirmation.

The story of a team that, after surviving last year, now wants to compete for something much more ambitious.

The squad has maintained a significant part of its core.

The one of a coach who already knows the way.

That of a structure that continues to grow.

And that of a fan base that continues to grow.

1,600 subscribers.

And growing.

The Muñoz Pérez reopens its doors.

Linares returns to Estepona.

And Estepona has another chance.

The first one has already passed.

The draw left a good feeling.

Now it's time for something else.

Now it's time to win.

Tomorrow at 9:00 PM.

Back home again.

Muñoz Pérez again.

People again.

Football again.

Because some seasons start with a victory.

And there are others that need a little more.

A tie.

A sign.

A team that is starting to recognize itself.

A fanbase that believes again.

And then…

the first triumph.

Tomorrow could be that day.

And Muñoz Pérez is ready.