Málaga host Espanyol with both sides searching for form

Recent meetings favour the visitors

The head-to-head record makes grim reading for Málaga. The last five meetings between these sides have produced thirteen goals, with Espanyol winning all five. The most recent encounter ended 0-3, as did the one before it, while the three earlier fixtures finished 1-4, 0-1 and 0-1. Those five defeats span several years, but the pattern is unambiguous.

Form offers little separation

Málaga have drawn two and lost three of their last five recent matches, picking up a point against Levante and Celta either side of defeats to Real Madrid, Villarreal and Getafe. Espanyol have won one, drawn one and lost three in the same span, their victory coming 2-0 against Osasuna. A win here would lift Málaga to six points from eight games, while defeat would leave them on three from eight. Espanyol would reach ten points from eight with three points, or stay on seven from eight if they lose. The market-implied probabilities are tight: Málaga at 36.0%, the draw at 29.3%, Espanyol at 34.7%.

Espanyol's season has already included Vini Jr., Espanyol and the Fallon d'Floor debate explained, though Friday's fixture will be decided by what happens on the pitch rather than the aftermath. Both sides need to turn recent results into something more substantial, and neither can point to momentum as they arrive at La Rosaleda.

We are covering this one live. Follow it with us in the match centre for the line-ups when they land, the goals as they go in, and the full timeline.