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Orlando Pirates will face their first on-field test on their return to Spain when they go toe-to-toe with Spanish outfit Córdoba at the Marbella Football Centre on Wednesday night.
Back in what has now become familiar territory, preparations for what promises to be another gruelling campaign are in full flow for Abdeslam Ouaddou’s troops. They landed in Spain over the weekend and have the Segunda División outfit on their radar first up as they take a key step towards building on what was a highly-successful 2025/26 campaign.
Amid the excitement of the business end of the ongoing FIFA World Cup, the Soweto Giants have been hard at work, ramping up preparations for what lies ahead. The first match-day assignment in their latest Spanish excursion is against a side hailing not far from their pre-season base in the Cordoba outfit determined to make a fresh bid for promotion into La Liga 11 years since they last featured in one of Europe’s most prestigious leagues.
Match-day Focus
Back in Malaga for the fourth pre-season running, the Buccaneers are set to test themselves against five other teams also taking residence on the Spanish coast. The list includes three opponents from the host country’s second tier, starting with the men from Andalusia.
It’s a chance to build peak readiness ahead of a season where they have multiple domestic titles to defend, while also looking to make a mark on the continent having booked their spot in the CAF Champions League by securing top honours in the Premiership.
The Bucs squad has undergone some changes heading into the fixture, with many new faces looking to hit their stride as early as possible with stiff competition for spots expected in the new season.
Ghampani Lungu, Neo Rapoo and Mthetheleli Mthiyane are among the new arrivals, while Academy products Cristian Derbyshire, Simphiwe Masilela and Mpho Padime have been all been rewarded with first-team call-ups after helping the club’s Reserves to the DStv Diski Challenge title. This makes for an exciting mix of youth and experience heading into the new season, providing the technical team with a wealth of options at every department.
With emerging talent complementing an established core alongside fresh faces looking to make a lasting first impression in Pirates colours, the fixture against Cordoba offers an intriguing glimpse into what lies ahead. As preparations gather momentum, Wednesday’s encounter provides the Buccaneers with an opportunity to sharpen match fitness and lay the foundations for another ambitious campaign.
Opposition Snapshot
Formed in 1954 following the merger between CD San Alvaro and Real CD Cordoba, the Andalusian outfit has
They enjoyed a prolonged stay in the top flight during the 1960s, achieving their highest finish in the 1964/65 season when they took up fifth spot. Following relegation in 1969, Cordóba resurfaced in La Liga two seasons later, but that proved to be a brief stay followed by a 42-year absence from the elite tier of Spanish football.
The club known as The Caliphs has since only made one other appearance in the top flight, securing promotion through the playoffs in 2014. They were once again not able to retain their status as a La Liga side for more than one season, subsequently dropping to the fourth tier in 2021. The past five years have however seen them make a steady climb back to the Segunda División, where they have spent the two most recent campaigns.
A lot of the club’s recent success can be put down to the appointment of former Racing Santander manager Ivan Ania, whose high-intensity, possession-based style has made the Andalusian outfit into a team renowned for its relentless pressing and quality in possession.
After falling just short of the playoff spots in the recently-concluded season, Cordóba has brought in reinforcements in terms of playing personnel. Their latest recruits include left-back Dani Tasende, who has joined from Segunda División rivals Real Zaragoza as well as right-back Egoitz Muñoz, brought in on loan from La Liga outfit Alavés.
The club has also had some high-profile departures with centre-forward Adrián Fuentes joining Mallorca after a prolific 2025/26 campaign in Cordoba colours. He is one of 12 players to leave on a permanent transfer so far in the off-season, while former Getafe and Real Valladolid striker Sergi Guardiola has called time on his career after making close to 500 senior professional appearances.
Match Coverage
The pre-season fixture between Orlando Pirates and Cordoba kicks off at 19:00 (SAST) and can be streamed live on Pirates TV on YouTube. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on updates posted across the club’s official social media channels.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB;S WEBSITE.