Málaga host Real Sociedad looking to climb off the bottom

Recent form points both ways

Málaga have drawn three of their last five recent matches, with two defeats completing a winless run that leaves them bottom of the division. Real Sociedad have won two of their last five, but have also lost twice in that sequence. The market implies a 42.2 per cent chance of an away win, against 31.1 per cent for the home side and 26.7 per cent for a draw, narrow enough margins to suggest nothing is settled.

A win would lift Málaga to seven points from nine matches, still short of safety but closing the gap. Real Sociedad would reach 16 points from nine with three points, consolidating a position in the top six. A draw would leave the home side on five points, the visitors on 14.

History offers little pattern

The five meetings above produced 11 goals in total, an average that suggests tight affairs rather than open ones. Málaga won two of those encounters, lost two and drew one, with the most recent ending 0-1. The sample is small and the results scattered across several years, making it difficult to extract a trend that holds for Sunday. What is certain is that both sides know the other, and neither has dominated the fixture over time.

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.