[4] In 1934 this new club made its debut in the Segunda División when the division was expanded from ten teams to 24, and remained there until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

In 1940, Malacitano participated in the inaugural edition of the FEF President Cup, which they won after beating AD Ferroviaria 5–2 in the last matchday, courtesy of a first-half brace from Juan Mesa and a second-half hat-trick from Tavilo, thus claiming the club's first-ever piece of silverware.

[8] During the first half of the season, Málaga averaged three goals per game, but despite this, the president decided to look for two other forwards, including Manolo Jimeno, who was introduced in a friendly match against UD Melilla.

[8] This promotion brought joy to the Malaga fans at the end of the 1940s, a period in which the city was still very impoverished, with many people suffering from poverty and lack of means, so the celebrations were therefore apotheotic.

[12] The 1952–53 season was notable because of a resounding 6–0 thrashing of the Real Madrid at La Rosaleda, the major result up to date for Málaga against that club.

[12] However, president in charge Antonio Rodríguez López was brutally murdered by the Mafia in the year 1971,[14] and was replaced by Rafael Serrano Carvajal for the next season.

[citation needed] They also notably scored a victory at Camp Nou for the first time after winning against FC Barcelona at the end of the 1971–72 season.