Juventud Torremolinos faces Granada CF this Saturday at the Ciudad Deportiva del Málaga CF (20:00 hours) in their first pre-season friendly. The Málaga team seeks to compete against a higher-ranked rival while the Nazaries unveil their first signing, goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain.
Juventud Torremolinos takes on their first pre-season commitment this Saturday (20:00 hours) against a prestigious opponent: Granada CF, recently relegated to the Second Division. The match, held at the Ciudad Deportiva del Málaga CF, will serve as a gauge to measure the fitness of José María Gutiérrez's players ahead of the start of the season in Primera Federación.
The Málaga team, which plays in the third tier of Spanish football, arrives with the excitement of facing a team from a higher division. Although it is a preparatory match, Juventud Torremolinos wants to take advantage of the fact that Granada is still in the midst of building their squad to pull off a surprise. The local coach will be able to test his players in a competitive context and start defining the starting eleven for the league.
A Granada under construction
Granada, managed by Pacheta, approaches the friendly with more questions than certainties. The squad is far from being finalised, and the team is working with a reduced number of players while the market remains practically frozen. The sale of the club has slowed down sports planning, which is reflected in a dressing room that awaits reinforcements to face a season that will kick off on August 15.
The match will be an opportunity for Pacheta to distribute minutes, test players like Stoichkov or Gumbau, and see several players from the reserve team in action. The result will take a back seat: what matters will be the physical condition and competitive response of his men.
Lizoain, the big news for Granada
The main news for Granada in recent hours has been the signing of Raúl Lizoain, the first official reinforcement for the 2026/27 season. The 35-year-old Canary Islander arrives on a free transfer after finishing his contract with Albacete Balompié and is set to debut this Saturday. He has accumulated nearly 300 matches in the First and Second Divisions, with experience at Las Palmas, Mirandés, Cartagena, Alcorcón, Andorra, and Albacete.
His arrival breaks the sense of paralysis in the Nazari market, although the club still needs reinforcements in all lines. Lizoain will compete for the goalkeeper position with Luca Zidane, who is still on holiday after playing in the World Cup with Algeria.
A significant test for Juventud Torremolinos
For Juventud Torremolinos, the friendly represents a first significant test. The Málaga team, which plays in Primera RFEF, seeks to establish themselves against a rival that, despite its problems, maintains an elite club structure. Local fans will be able to see how the team responds against a higher-ranked opponent, something that always excites during pre-season.
The match takes place at the Ciudad Deportiva del Málaga CF, a neutral venue hosting the first test for both teams. For Juventud Torremolinos, it is a golden opportunity to demonstrate that they can compete against teams from a higher category and for their coach to start shaping the starting eleven for the season.
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