Next opponent : Linares, where three eggs are two pairs

By José Antonio Jerruz Mancilla.

**Next Saturday, September 6 (20:45h), CD Estepona will start a new season, the 2025/26, for CD Estepona. The red and red team will make its home debut against one of the biggest teams in Group IV of the Second RFEF, Linares Deportivo **.

The team from Linares, coached for the second consecutive season by the talaverano Pedro Díaz, will arrive at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez with the idea of being one of the favorites for promotion, a goal from which they were far from last season. This is a very powerful club in the pecuniary and for this, in addition to betting on the continuity of the talented Isra Cano and the incombustible Hugo Diaz, among others, has been reinforced quite well in each and every one of its lines.

In goal, the arrival of Diego Barrios (Atlético Antoniano) stands out; in defense, Carlos Becken (Recreativo) and Manny (San Fernando CD) arrive to provide solidity to the blue and blues backline; In the midfield, João Paulo (Atlético Antoniano), Fran Lara (CD Illescas) -exjugador rojillo- and Menudo (CD Atlético Paso) will provide muscle and quality; while for the attack, their bet for the goal is the Spanish-Scottish Jack Harper (RB Linense).

In the chapter of casualties, the Lithuanian goalkeeper Ernestas (Lorca Deportiva); the defenders David Alfonso (UD Melilla), Rubén Del Valle and Samu Gomis, old acquaintance of the red and white fans; and the midfielders Fran Rivera (Orihuela CF), Ismael Gutiérrez (Xerez CD) and Álex Escardó (Juventud Torremolinos) stand out.

The Linarejos team faces the start of the league with great confidence after having made a pre-season with more lights than shadows, both in sensations and results. The team has achieved a total of five victories, against rivals such as Albacete Balompié (1-0), CD Egabrense (0-5), Torreperogil CD (1-3), Recreativo Granada (2-1) and Antequera CF (1-0). On the other hand, it has been defeated up to three times; against CF Motril (4-2), CF Talavera (3-0) and CS Puertollano (2-0).

Their last visit to Estepona took place on the tenth matchday of the season 2024/25, in a match that ended with a draw (1-1). At that time, both teams met at the Municipal San Fernando, in a match dominated by equality and a lack of chances. Almost a quarter of an hour into the second half, Jorge García (58') put the Red and Whites ahead, but a few minutes later, David Alfonso (64') would equalize the match, rescuing a very valuable point for the Blue and Whites.

This Saturday, CD Estepona and Linares Deportivo will duel again in an opening day that looks to be very promising. The battle is served.