Malaga vs Villarreal Betting Odds, Tips, Predictions, Preview 17th September 2026

Malaga enjoy home advantage, when visitors Villarreal swing by on Thursday for a clash in the LaLiga. The former will be looking to make that home advantage count.

Malaga are placed 17th with three points after five matches. Villarreal occupy a position as 18th in the league on two points.

A win is required for Villarreal to jump ahead of Malaga in the LaLiga table on Thursday. In a match they enter as favourites, this seems as an opportunity too good to miss.

Malaga scored six times in the last ten outings for an average of 0.6 goals a game. They conceded 18 and managed two clean sheets.

Villarreal are brimming with confidence in front of goal before the upcoming away match in the LaLiga, as they can show off very handsome numbers from their previous ten games. The visitors scored two times on average per match, for a total of 20 goals. They also let in 18 goals, leaving an average of 1.8 per match. They fought their way to zero clean sheets.

Malaga beat Villarreal by 1-0 in their most recent match, while Villarreal claimed a 2-0 win in the match prior to that.

Malaga vs Villarreal Prediction

Malaga Form

It could have been better, it could have been worse for Malaga, who have two draws to show from their last three matches. They came up short in a 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid, followed by a 0-0 draw against Levante. They recorded yet another one in the latest round after a 1-1 match with Celta Vigo. Malaga only managed one meagre home win from a possible six at Estadio La Rosaleda in the LaLiga. They also drew two and lost three of these six encounters, in which they scored four and conceded seven goals.

Malaga entered the season hunting for a title, however they find themselves far off track at this stage.

Villarreal Form

Villarreal lost their previous three matches by 2-3 against Deportivo de A Coruna, 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund and 1-2 against Real Betis. Villarreal didn't manage a single away win in their last six LaLiga matches, but managed four draws, while suffering two defeats. They conceded nine and scored six goals themselves.

A mid-table finish seemed likely for Villarreal but in current form they could be dragged into a relegation battle.

We are opting for a draw, as Malaga have settled for a point after 90 minutes in several recent matches. Villarreal could be satisfied with taking a point back home.

Malaga claimed zero wins, three draws as well as two defeats in the LaLiga this season. Villarreal are yet to win this season, having played five games, in stead showing off two draws and three defeats.

Malaga vs Villarreal Squads

Malaga Squad

The 43-year-old coach of the home team, Juan Funes, will select the lineup against Villarreal from the squad below. The information in the brackets refers to goals scored and matches played in the LaLiga this season:

Alfonso Herrero (0/5), Andres Cespedes (0/0), Carlos Lopez (0/0), Adam Aznou (0/0), Alex Pastor (0/0), Angel Recio (0/5), Antonito (0/0), Carlos Puga (0/5), Dani Sanchez (0/0), Diego Murillo (0/0), Einar Galilea (0/5), Fernando Calero (0/0), Jose Salinas (0/4), Juan Berrocal (0/1), Moussa Diarra (0/0), Rafita (0/5), Aaron Ochoa (0/0), Carlos Dotor (0/4), Dani Lorenzo (0/4), David Larrubia (0/5), Haitam Abaida (0/2), Izan Merino (0/5), Jens-Lys Cajuste (0/1), Pablo Martinez (0/3), Rafa Rodriguez (0/3), Ramon Enriquez (0/5), Adrian Nino (1/1), Chupe (1/5), Eneko Jauregi (0/1), Joaquin Munoz (0/5), Juan Cruz (0/5), Julen Lobete (0/1).

Villarreal Squad

Here is the full team squad of Villarreal. The 38 year-old Inigo Perez will select his starting lineup from the following players:

Luiz Junior (0/4), Peter Gulacsi (0/1), Alex Freeman (0/4), Carlos Romero (0/4), Juan Foyth (0/3), Logan Costa (0/1), Pau Navarro (0/1), Santiago Mourino (0/4), Sergi Cardona (0/1), Alassane Diatta (0/0), Alberto Moleiro (0/5), Carlos Macia (0/2), Cheikh Tidiane Thiam (0/0), Mahamoud Barry (0/0), Nathan Saliba (0/2), Pape Gueye (1/5), Renato Veiga (0/5), Santi Comesana (0/5), Tajon Buchanan (0/5), Ayoze Perez (0/5), Georges Mikautadze (1/5), Gerard Moreno (2/5), Ilias Akhomach (0/4), Nicolas Pepe (2/5), Tani Oluwaseyi (0/4).

Malaga vs Villarreal Team News

Villarreal have three on the list of injured and absent players before their next match against Malaga on Thursday. Pape Gueye, Georges Mikautadze and Pape Gueye sit this one out for Villarreal, serving a suspension instead of travelling to meet Malaga.

Malaga vs Villarreal Lineups

Malaga vs Villarreal H2H

Villarreal lost 1-0 against Malaga in their latest encounter. This served as pay back for the 2-0 defeat, Villarreal handed out in the match before. In last ten encounters between the clubs, Villarreal have been the dominant force winning five matches against Malaga. The bookies have Villarreal to win this match at best price odds of 19/20.

Malaga vs Villarreal Results

The previous ten matches between Malaga and Villarreal were not exactly one goal-fest after another as under 2.5 goals came out nine times.

Malaga vs Villarreal Betting Tips

Having scored just once lately in the LaLiga, Adrian Nino will be eager to hit the target again, and the upcoming game presents an opportunity to step up. Villarreal hope Gerard Moreno can inflict some damage on their upcoming opponents by adding to his tally of two LaLiga goals in his last six LaLiga games.

Malaga won two of their last 10 matches on home soil, drew eight and lost none. Villarreal won two games, drew three and lost five in their last 10 away games across all tournaments. Goals are flowing freely for Malaga on home soil currently, as both teams scored in eight of their last 10 matches here. Both teams were also on target seven times in Villarreal''s last 10 league games away from home.

Under 2.5 goals happened nine times in the last ten encounters between these two rivals. Malaga managed an average of 0.7 goals, with Villarreal averaging 1.1 goals in these. Both teams not to score was a winning bet six times in this run of matches. Over 2.5 goals happened in six of Malaga’s last ten matches across all tournaments. They pulled off an average of 1.4 goals during this run. Over 2.5 goals came out in eight of the last 10 matches Villarreal played across all tournaments. They managed to score an average of 1.6 goals themselves during this run.