Barcelona vs Malaga Prediction and Preview – 29/08/2015
Liga BBVA football tips – Barcelona vs Malaga prediction
Barcelona have been without Neymar for the past two weeks or so after he contracted mumps on August 9th. He is now fully fit and is expected to push Rafinha out of the team and start against Malaga. Dani Alves has picked up a groin injury which will keep him out until late September. Piqué’s suspension adds to their other defensive worries, whereas the concern over Sergio Busquet’s ankle was dispelled by the club.
Being one of the more understated teams in the Liga BBVA, Malaga haven’t done much notable business during the transfer window, other than the permanent signing of Nordin Amrabat. With an injury free squad they will be looking to field their best side in order to do what they have already done this year: beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp. They deployed the 4-4-2 formation in that game.
Possible Line-ups
Barcelona: 4-3-3 formation: Bravo; Alba, Mathieu, Mascherano, Adriano; Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitić; Neymar, Suárez, Messi
Malaga: 4-4-2 formation: Kameni; Boka, Angeleri, Albentosa, Rosales; Amrabat, Darder, Tissone, Horta; Cop, Charles
Statistics
- Barcelona have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Malaga have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Barcelona have scored an average of 1.8 goals and conceded an average of 1.8 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Malaga have scored an average of 1.5 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Barcelona’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Malaga’s previous 10 matches
- Back in February Malaga shocked the Nou Camp with a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the league, one of only four wins they’ve ever achieved against Barça
Prediction
Barcelona haven’t had the flying start that people predicted despite winning their opening game of the league season against Athletic Bilbao; the team who beat them 5-1 on aggregate to win the Spanish Super Cup against every expectation. Some may put this down to Neymar not being in the team, but now he is fit I predict that Barcelona will kick on and perform better.
Malaga performed well last season, finishing 9th in the league and comfortably avoiding any sign of relegation. It is unlikely that they will be able to perform the heroics that they showed in February again and get a win at the Nou Camp. It could be a long afternoon for them with the return of Neymar to Barcelona’s front three.
Barcelona will be looking to win this match comfortably and show their fans that the average form of late is only a blip.
We say: Barcelona to win by 3 at 7/2 with Bet365
What are your predictions?