Friday, 26 August Espanyol vs Malaga: Preview and Prediction

Espanyol vs Malaga
2016/17 Spanish La Liga
Date: Friday, 26 August 2016,
Kick-Off: 21:00 UK
Venue: Estadi Cornella-El Prat (Cornella).

It was raining goals in Espanyol’s opening league game of the 2016/17 season which ended in a 6-4 defeat at Sevilla. Quique Sanchez Flores, who took over the reigns from Constantin Galca this summer has every reason to worry after watching a terrible defensive performance from his team. On the positives he could be satisfied by the number of goals Espanyol scored, despite seeing just under 33% of ball possession.

Malaga were denied by Osasuna by a late goal in their opening league fixture last Friday. It was rather an evenly fought battle between the two and Malaga never looked like the home team. After a goal-less first half, Juan Pablo Anor put them in front, only to be denied by an 85th minute strike from Fran Merida.

Espanyol vs Malaga: Head-to-Head Statistics

Espanyol are unbeaten in the last 8 matches against Malaga with 4 wins and 4 draws. Their last defeat to Malaga was at Estadi Cornella-El Prat on March 2012.

Espanyol have won only once in their last four home games against Malaga, drawing three during the period.

The last three matches between these two sides have seen under 2.5 goals.

Espanyol vs Malaga: Prediction

Malaga were poor away from home last season managing just 4 wins from 19 games. Moreover they have only won 26% of their away games over the past two seasons. While Espanyol have finished last season strongly winning 4 of their last six games. Moreover they were strong at home last season and lost just 5 of the 19 home games.

Adding these factor’s to Espanyol’s eight-games unbeaten run against Malaga, makes the home team slight favourites to take at least a point from Friday’s match.

I will be also backing the correct score prediction of a 2-1 win for Espanyol which makes a strong case for over 2.5 goals and both teams to score.

6:37 AM