Real Madrid vs Malaga — Tips & Analysis

Under 4: Real Madrid win these games in control rather than in a rush, and that is where the case starts. They have reached 4 or more goals in a game only 4 times in their last 15. Madrid come in on five straight wins and have won 9 of their last 15 games. They are also short of bodies, with seven players out including Rodrygo, Endrick, Militao, Mendy and Tchouameni. A patched up side tends to manage a game rather than chase a big score. Malaga are the other side of this. They are newly promoted and sit 18th, with one point and one goal from their first two league games. They let in only about a goal a game, so they defend in numbers and keep things slow. Their forward Nino is one of five men missing, so there is little coming back the other way. Expect Madrid to take the lead, keep the ball and see it out at their own pace. A 2-0 home win is the likeliest score, and that leaves us plenty of room. The thing to watch is what happens if Madrid go two up early. Malaga would have to come out and chase it. The old meetings between these clubs were busy games with more than 3 goals a time, though the last of them was years ago. We are still happy to take the quieter game.