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Thu 17 Sept · 20:30

Malaga vs Villarreal prediction

Follow Malaga Follow Villarreal Follow this match

Round: Regular Season - 6
Venue: Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga
Referee: Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, Spain

Published by the BetGenius Editorial Desk · Editorial policy

Form

Recent form

Malaga

21Very poor

Last 5 matches · 0W-2D-3L · -6 goal difference

Villarreal

47Average

Last 5 matches · 2W-1D-2L · +2 goal difference

Our call

Our verdict

Double Chance

Villarreal or Draw

BetGenius backs Villarreal or Draw (Double Chance) at 72% confidence — a solid call. Total goals: Under 2.5 Goals.

72%

Confidence

Solid

Preview

Match preview

Malaga host Villarreal in La Liga with both sides searching for their first league victory of the campaign. Malaga sit in 17th place with three points from their opening matches, having drawn both of their home fixtures while failing to score in three of their four league games overall. Their offensive struggles have been pronounced, managing just one goal in four outings.

Villarreal enter the clash in 18th position with two points, looking to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. While they have been leaky defensively, conceding eight goals across four league games, they have carried considerably more attacking threat than their opponents, registering six goals in that span.

With Malaga missing several squad members through injury and generating very little going forward, Villarreal have a strong opportunity to take something from this encounter. Expect a tightly contested affair where Malaga focus on defensive solidity while the visitors look to capitalise on their superior attacking efficiency.

Analysis

Key factors

Malaga have scored only one goal across four league matches, failing to score in three of them
Villarreal have averaged 1.5 goals per match in league play compared to Malaga's average of 0.3
Malaga have drawn both of their home matches this season, conceding just one goal at home
Head-to-head history has seen low scoring, with past encounters averaging 1.8 goals per game and under 2.5 goals landing 90 percent of the time
Malaga have five players listed as unavailable due to injury, whereas Villarreal have two

Availability

Team news

Malaga

J. CruzMuscle Injury
J. LobeteKnee Injury
J. MunozCalf Injury
D. MurilloKnee Injury
A. OchoaKnee Injury

Villarreal

N. PepeEye injury
C. RomeroInjury

Numbers

Statistical comparison

Malaga at homeVillarreal away

Played

0-3-2

W-D-L

1-2-2

Scored /game

1.4

Conceded /game

1.4

20%

Clean sheets

20%

Failed to score

40%

80%

BTTS (last 5)

60%

40%

Over 2.5 (last 5)

60%

Combined scoring rate: 2.4 goals per game (Malaga at home plus Villarreal away).

Players

Key players this season

Villarreal

Alberto Moleiro3A

League scoring and assist totals for this season — not a predicted lineup. Availability is only shown where team news names the same player.

Table

Table context

Full table →

#	Team	P	GD	Pts
9	Deportivo La Coruna	9	+1	11
10	Osasuna	9	-8	11
11	Levante	9	-2	10
12	Villarreal	9	0	9
13	Athletic Club	8	-1	9
14	Rayo Vallecano	8	-5	9
15	Getafe	9	-6	9
17	Racing Santander	9	-12	8
18	ElcheRelegation - LaLiga2	9	-6	7
19	ValenciaRelegation - LaLiga2	9	-9	6
20	MalagaRelegation - LaLiga2	10	-12	5

History

Head-to-head

Full record →

2
Malaga: 3
Draws: 5
Villarreal

Villarreal have won 5 of the last 10 meetings, averaging 1.8 goals a game, only 10% went over 2.5.

2018-04-01Malaga1-0Villarreal
2017-11-05Villarreal2-0Malaga
2017-02-12Villarreal1-1Malaga
2016-09-10Malaga0-2Villarreal
2016-02-13Villarreal1-0Malaga

BetGenius

Our record in La Liga

74%92 won from 125 settled predictions (1 void)

Settled results only — every published pick is recorded win or lose. Full track record →

Predictions

1 published market

FeaturedWON

Double Chance

Villarreal or Draw

72%

Confidence

Malaga have struggled in front of goal, scoring just one goal in four league fixtures and failing to score in three of them. They also enter the match with five reported injuries in their squad, including M. Diarra and J. Lobete. In contrast, Villarreal have shown higher offensive output, scoring six goals in four games. While Villarreal have defensive vulnerabilities that make a straight away win less reliable, their superior attacking output positions them well to secure at least a point.

Explore

Malaga vs Villarreal prediction

Recent form

Our verdict

Match preview

Key factors

Team news

Malaga

Villarreal

Statistical comparison

Key players this season

Villarreal

Table context

Head-to-head

Our record in La Liga

1 published market

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