Bottom-of-the-table Málaga remain one of only two teams without a win in Europe’s top-five leagues this season, but may fancy their chances against fellow newly-promoted side Racing Santander, who are uncomfortably close to the relegation zone in La Liga themselves.
Match News and Current Form
Málaga’s latest attempt to earn a victory ended in a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis on Saturday, heaping more pressure on manager Juan Francisco Funes. The Anchovies’ four-game losing streak at the end of the 2017/18 season means that they have actually failed to win any of their last 15 matches in La Liga (D5, L10), so it is perhaps unsurprising that no side have scored fewer goals than their eight in the division this term. One small crumb of comfort for Funes could be that his side have found the net in each of their last five games across all competitions, but Málaga haven't won any of their last eight home encounters going back to May (D6, L2).
Racing’s own 14-year absence from La Liga meant that their supporters were desperate for them to start the season strongly, and they did, earning seven points from their opening five games (W2, D1, L2). Momentum has stalled though, with José Alberto’s men picking up just four points from their subsequent six league matches (W1, D1, L4), the latest of which was a 3-0 loss at home to Real Madrid. That scoreline is by no means embarrassing, but it puts more pressure on Racing to get a result here, as they haven't won any of their last 15 top-flight away games (D4, L11).
Head-to-Head History
Racing secured four points in last season’s H2Hs in La Liga 2, taking their unbeaten run against Málaga to six games (W3, D3).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Málaga scored seven of their last eight goals after half-time.
The team scoring first won just three of Málaga’s last seven league matches.
Racing scored their last five goals after half-time.
Racing failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine halves of away league action.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Against Betis, Adrián Niño became the first player to score for Málaga in four successive games in La Liga since May 2017, with his last 14 competitive goals for the club all coming after the 40th minute. Racing’s Asier Villalibre got a brace in cup action last week - the eighth consecutive time that he has been on the winning side when finding the net.
Málaga centre-back Ángel Recio missed the Betis game through illness, while Racing defender Álvaro Mantilla suffered a serious knee injury against Real Madrid, although his team-mate Jorge Salinas is no longer suspended.
For all the latest team news, please check the ScoresStat match centre.
Betting Analysis
Given the two sides’ respective home and away struggles, a draw and both teams to score after half-time seem somewhat feasible here.
Author: Alex Bowmer
