La Liga · Matchday 9 
Malaga vs Real Sociedad: Points Matter at the Bottom
Malaga sit 20th in La Liga and need results quickly. Real Sociedad, sixth and on the rise, arrive at La Rosaleda on Sunday looking to keep their momentum going.
📍 La Rosaleda
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| Scored | Conceded | |
|---|---|---|
| Malaga | 0.5 | 1.6 |
| Real Sociedad | 1.5 | 1.9 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Real Sociedad | 8 | -3 | 13 |
| 20 | Malaga | 8 | -9 | 4 |
Last meetings
- 2024Malaga0-1Real Sociedad
- 2018Malaga2-0Real Sociedad
- 2017Real Sociedad0-2Malaga
- 2017Real Sociedad2-2Malaga
- 2017Malaga0-2Real Sociedad
Absences
Malaga
- OutJ. Cruz · Injury
- OutM. Diarra · Calf Injury
- OutJ. Lobete · Knee Injury
- OutD. Murillo · Knee Injury
- OutA. Ochoa · Knee Injury
Real Sociedad
- OutL. Beitia · Ankle Injury
- OutP. Marin · Red Card
- OutA. Odriozola · Knee Injury
The most recent meeting between these sides was a tight affair: Malaga lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey in January 2024. This time the stakes are far higher for the hosts, who are rooted to the foot of La Liga with four points from eight matches.
Malaga’s fight to escape the bottom
Malaga have yet to win a league game this season. Four draws and four defeats have left them 20th, and a goal difference of -9 shows how much ground they have to make up. Every point on Sunday carries extra weight as they look to pull away from the bottom places.
Sociedad’s stronger momentum
Real Sociedad sit sixth on 13 points, nine ahead of their hosts. They have won four, drawn one and lost three of their eight games, and their last five league results read WWLWD. Their recent run has been encouraging, with wins in four of their last five outings, although they have also conceded 15 goals this term, so there is room for improvement at the back.
Malaga’s own defensive record is a worry. Across their last five matches they have scored three times and conceded six, leaving them with the hard task of finding a goal against a side that has been more clinical in recent weeks.
A rivalry that swings both ways
The head-to-head record is closely balanced. Malaga have won twice in the last five meetings, with a 2-0 victory at home in April 2018 and a 2-0 win in Donostia in December 2017. Real Sociedad have also taken two, including the 1-0 Copa del Rey win in 2024 and a 2-0 victory in Malaga in January 2017. The sides also shared a 2-2 draw in May 2017.
Malaga’s injury problems
Malaga will be without several players. J. Cruz is out injured, M. Diarra is sidelined with a calf problem, and J. Lobete, D. Murillo and A. Ochoa are all missing with knee injuries.
Real Sociedad have their own issues. L. Beitia is out with an ankle injury, A. Odriozola is missing with a knee problem, and P. Marin is unavailable after a red card.
Our prediction
Malaga 1-2 Real Sociedad. Malaga have shown they can compete at home, but a thin squad and the struggle to score point to another difficult afternoon. Real Sociedad’s better recent form should be enough to take three points, even if the hosts make things uncomfortable.