A pragmatic Linares Deportivo stages a comeback and routs Estepona in its first league loss (1-4)

Manolo Sánchez’s team dominated much of the first half and took the lead with a goal by Maxi Benites, but a two-goal performance by Llabrés before halftime sparked a comeback by the Azulillas, who sealed the victory in the second half with goals by Velázquez and Menudo

CD Estepona suffered its first loss of the season at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium against Linares Deportivo, which staged a resounding comeback to take all three points with a 1-4 victory. The match featured two very distinct halves: an Estepona side that was superior for much of the first half—even taking the lead at one point—and a Linares team that, far from falling apart, found in Miquel Llabrés the key figure in a turnaround that ultimately proved decisive.

Estepona Dominated Early On

Manolo Sánchez made four changes to the starting lineup that debuted against Xerez CD, bringing in Jorge Álvarez, Álex Claverías, Nacho Ramón, and Pablo Arriaza. The lineup changes did not dampen the positive momentum from the league opener: the red-and-whites came out with pace and intensity, pushing the action deep into the visitors’ half.
Linares, with Diego Barrios in goal and a defense consisting of Iker Pérez, Joao Paulo, Iván Romero, and Monty, along with Llabrés, Carlos Becken, Argüelles, and Moi Becken in midfield, struggled to shake off the home team’s pressure for much of the first half-hour. Claverías gave an early warning with a shot that sailed over the bar, and shortly afterward, Diego Barrios had to step in to stop another Estepona attack.
The home team’s dominance paid off in the 33rd minute. A free kick from the right flank taken by Ballarín was headed in by Maxi Benites, who put the score at 1-0 and rewarded the team’s efforts up to that point.

The Azulillas’ Comeback Before Halftime

Far from crushing the miners’ spirits, the goal served as a springboard. Linares immediately stepped up their game, and just eight minutes later, in the 41st minute, Miquel Llabrés tied the match following an assist from Iker Pérez.
The decisive moment of the first half came in stoppage time. In the 45th minute, Llabrés himself was the star of the night’s play, receiving a pass from Iván Romero and finishing with a shot that completed his brace, leaving the score at 1-2 at halftime. In just twelve minutes, Linares had gone from trailing to heading into the locker room with the lead.

Linares Seals the Deal in the Second Half

Manolo Sánchez sought to shake things up after the break by bringing on Sandji Baradji and Samu Expósito, and Estepona had a few chances to cut into the lead. The Rojillo coach continued to make substitutions, bringing on Ariel Herrero in the 55th minute and later Héber Pena and Pablo Aguilar in the 72nd, in search of a reaction that never quite materialized.
Linares, for its part, managed the pace of the game well and struck when it found openings. In the 65th minute, David Velázquez scored again off an assist from Iker Pérez to make it 1-3, a goal that really shook the home team. Miguel de la Fuente began freshening up the lineup by bringing on Guize Medina and Juanma in the 63rd minute, and Hugo Aranda and Menudo in the 72nd minute, and it was Menudo who, in stoppage time (90+5), sealed the rout with the final 1-4 goal following an assist from Tommy Montenegro, who had come on shortly before to replace Velázquez.

Dominance That Didn’t Show on the Scoreboard

The match statistics accurately reflect what happened on the field. Estepona had more of the ball, with approximately 55% possession, but it was Linares that dictated the pace when it came to creating scoring chances. The visitors also had more corner kicks (5 to 4) and committed more fouls, while also receiving one more yellow card than Estepona. In short, it was a match in which Estepona’s possession and promising start were not enough to overcome the effectiveness of an opponent that knew how to capitalize on its chances.

Second Strategic Defeat

The result marks Estepona’s first setback of the season, following a match in which they once again displayed offensive prowess—especially on set pieces—but in which their defensive fragility was also exposed in the face of the visitors’ comeback. For Linares, the victory marks their first win of the season following a draw on opening day, with Llabrés as the standout performer.

Match Report

CD Estepona: Fran Martínez; Jorge Álvarez, Julen Jon Guerrero (Héber Pena, 72'), Ale Contreras, Ballarín (Pablo Aguilar, 72'), Claverías (Samu Expósito, 46'), Nacho Ramón (Ariel Herrero, 55'), Maxi Benites, Marín, Caro, and Pablo Arriaza (Sandji Baradji, 46').

Linares Deportivo: Diego Barrios; Iker Pérez, Joao Paulo (Hugo Aranda, 72'), Iván Romero, Monty, Llabrés (Menudo, 72'), Carlos Becken, Argüelles (Guize Medina, 63'), Moi Becken, Caye Cancela (Juanma Domínguez, 63'), and David Velázquez (Tommy Montenegro, 82').

Goals: 1-0, min. 33: Maxi Benites (assist by Ballarín). 1-1, min. 41: Llabrés (assist by Iker Pérez). 1-2, min. 45: Llabrés (assist by Iván Romero). 1-3, min. 65: Velázquez (assist: Iker Pérez). 1-4, min. 90+5: Menudo (assist: Tommy Montenegro).

Referee: Johan González (Canary Islands Technical Committee). He issued yellow cards to the home team’s Julen Jon Guerrero (23'), Sandji Baradji (46'), and Héber Pena (88'), and the visiting players Moi Becken (18'), Hugo Aranda (45'), Iván Romero (48'), and Carlos Becken (64').

Notes: Match from the second round of Group IV of the Segunda Federación, played at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Municipal Stadium, with approximately 2,000 spectators in the stands.

Estepona now faces two consecutive away games, first against Puente Genil and then against CD Tenerife “B.”