Málaga vs Real Sociedad prediction

Málaga have won none, drawn five and lost six of their 11 La Liga games so far, scoring 8 and letting in 21. That has them 20th on 5 points.

Their last six in all competitions read no wins, three draws and three defeats, at 0.5 goals scored and 1.7 conceded per game. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Espanyol; before that came a 1-0 defeat away at Getafe and a 3-1 defeat at home to Villarreal.

Málaga haven't won in six. The defence is a worry: they have conceded in each of their last four. They failed to score in three of those games. At home they've won none of three recently (2 scored, 4 conceded). A. Ochoa (knee injury), D. Murillo (knee injury) and J. Cruz (injury), plus two others, are all unavailable.

So far in the La Liga, Real Sociedad have won six, drawn one and lost four of 11, with 20 goals scored and 20 conceded, good for 5th place and 19 points.

Over the last six matches it has been three wins, one draw and two defeats, averaging 1.8 goals for and 2.0 against. Last time out they drew 1-1 with St. Gilloise; before that came a 3-2 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna and a 3-2 win away at Valencia.

Real Sociedad are unbeaten in three. The defence is a worry: they have conceded in each of their last six. On the road they've won two of three recently (7 scored, 5 conceded). A. Odriozola (knee injury), L. Beitia (ankle injury) and P. Marin (red card) are all unavailable.

Home and away form points to Real Sociedad: Málaga have won none of their last three at home, Real Sociedad two of their last three on the road. 14 points separate the two sides in the table. Real Sociedad also have the better goal difference over recent weeks.

We make Real Sociedad favourites at 47%, with Málaga on 28% and the draw at 25%. They're favoured rather than expected to stroll it.

On goals, it expects around 2.8 in the game: 1.0 for Málaga and 1.8 for Real Sociedad. Over 2.5 goals is 54% and both teams scoring 53%. When they last met, on 7 Jan 2024, Real Sociedad won 1-0.