Malaga VS SD Eibar Match Prediction
- 2017-08-21
- 20:00:00
Malaga will win this match.
Malaga have won three of their six matches against Eibar since the latter's La Liga promotion in 2014, and are unbeaten at home in this fixture with two wins and a draw. Here are the results of the last five matches:
Feb 25, 2017: Eibar 3-0 Malaga
Sep 20, 2016: Malaga 2-1 Eibar
Jan 30, 2016: Eibar 1-2 Malaga
Sep 13, 2015: Malaga 0-0 Eibar
Apr 07, 2015: Eibar 1-0 Malaga
Malaga will take confidence from the fact they are unbeaten at home against Eibar in La Liga, but it has been a difficult pre-season for the team.
The departure of three key players, and a poor run of results will hardly do confidence any good but if Borja Baston can rediscover the form he showed in La Liga in the past, they have made a smart acquisition up front.
Eibar, by contrast, have shown good form in pre-season and won 3-0 the last time these two teams met, though that was at home.
Just one place separated the two teams in La Liga last season, and this is likely to be a closely-fought encounter to start the new campaign but Malaga's home advantage means they just about edge it.
Malaga are narrow favourites to win on Sunday, at 5/4 with William Hill and Betfair.
Both teams to score has been set at 10/11 with Bet365 and William Hill, while a Malaga win and BTTS is 15/4 with Bet365.
Borja Baston is 2/1 with Betfair to score at any time on his Malaga debut.
Malaga are unbeaten in their three previous home matches against Eibar, and can continue that run on Sunday.
Malaga saw top scorer Sandro Ramirez and star players Ignacio Camacho and Pablo Fornais depart in the summer, with several players set for debuts in their place. Paul Baysse will bolster the defence after signing from Nice, while midfielder Emanuel Cecchini cost €4m from Banfield. Miguel Torres and Federico Ricca are out injured.
Borja Baston is back in Spain, on loan from Swansea, and looking to recapture the form he showed in loan spells at Deportivo, Zaragoza and Eibar before his move to the Premier League.
Malaga have suffered a difficult pre-season results-wise, with only one win - against Villareal - to their name. They lost games against Lazio, Borussia Monchengladbach, AZ, Hertha and Sheffield United.
Goalkeeper:Roberto
Defenders:Kone, Baysse, Hernandez, Juankar
Midfielders:Reccio, Gonzalez, Cecchini
Forwards:Baston, Penaranda, Anor
Yoel Rodriguez, Pedro Leon and Sergi Enrich will all miss the start of the season after picking up injuries in pre-season, with goalkeeper Rodriguez the worst affected after rupturing his cruciate ligament. Gonzalo Escalante is suspended for the opening game.
With Sergi Enrich and Pedro Leon out injured, Kike will need to step up to provide goals up front after scoring nine and assisting three last season.
Eibar had a mixed pre-season, including wins against Leeds United and Alanyaspor and, most recently, Real Zaragoza, but they lost away to Schalke 04, Sporting Gijon and Osasuna.
Goalkeeper:Riesgo
Defenders:Calavera, Ramis, Galvez, Angel
Midfielders:Pena, Dani Garcia, Rivera, Bebe
Forwards:Kike, Charles