Third time's the charm

The Rojillos have strung together at least two consecutive home wins in each of their five seasons in Segunda RFEF. Their best run came two seasons ago, with four victories in a row, and this Saturday (7:00 p.m.) they will have the chance to move closer to that mark against Ciudad de Lucena.

CD Estepona want to go one step further at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez. The wins over CD Don Benito (3-1) and Club Atlético Central (3-2) give the Rojillos a new opportunity at something that, with one exception, has always eluded them over the last four seasons: stringing together three consecutive home wins. It is a pattern that has followed the team through very different situations, from the fight for a promotion play-off spot to the battle against relegation.

In the 2022/23 season, their debut in the division, Manel Ruano's side beat UD Melilla (1-0) and CF Villanovense (2-0) back to back in the second half of the campaign. CD Diocesano (0-1), on matchday 30, stopped Estepona from linking three straight wins. In 2023/24, Ángel Rodríguez's players did the same against San Roque de Lepe (3-1) and the now-defunct Vélez CF (4-1). On that occasion, it was El Palo FC (1-1) who prevented the home winning streak from going on.

The best run came in 2024/25. In a campaign defined by the promotion play-off, Carlos Cura's side won four consecutive matches at the Muñoz Pérez against Cádiz CF Mirandilla (5-1), Águilas FC (3-1), CF Villanovense (1-0) and Recreativo Granada (1-0). That streak powered the team through a spectacular second half of the season and left them on the verge of the long-awaited step up a division.

Last season, 2025/26, the context was very different. The goal became survival, which looked practically impossible, but Manolo Sánchez's side produced a dream second half of the season, picking up 37 points, which secured a historic escape from relegation. During that decisive stretch, the wins over UCAM Murcia (2-0) and FC La Unión (3-2) were key to establishing the Muñoz Pérez as a decisive ground in the fight for survival. However, the draw against CD Extremadura (1-1) stopped the Rojillos from linking three consecutive wins at home.

Now CD Estepona once again have the chance to extend their good form. Ciudad de Lucena, one of the surprise packages of Group IV, will test a side that hopes to keep its good home run going. The challenge is to string together three consecutive wins at the Muñoz Pérez. Recent history invites optimism, but on Saturday it will have to be proven on the pitch. Estepona want to keep turning their stadium into a fortress and earn another victory in front of their fans. Because, as the saying goes, third time's the charm. Will they pull it off this Saturday?

CD Estepona Fans | La Voz de la Afición