Malaga vs Racing de Santander Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Malaga

vs

Racing de Santander

KickoffSaturday 7 November 2026, 1:00pm

VenueEstadio La Rosaleda

CompetitionSpanish La Liga

Malaga are in serious trouble. Eleven games into the new La Liga season and they still have not won a single league match, sitting rock bottom with just five points to their name. Five draws, six defeats, and a goal tally of eight that tells you everything about how toothless they have been in front of goal. This is not a slow start. This is a crisis, and Saturday’s visit of Racing de Santander feels like one of those fixtures that the club absolutely cannot afford to let slip.

The gap to safety is already five points. The November international break is coming. If Malaga go into that break still without a league win, the mood around Estadio La Rosaleda is going to turn very dark very quickly. Juan Francisco Funes needs a result, and he needs it now. The problem is that Racing, for all their defensive fragility, are not exactly rolling over for anyone right now.

Malaga vs Racing de Santander Match Details

This fixture takes place at Estadio La Rosaleda in Malaga, with both clubs competing in La Liga, Spain’s top division. It is a bottom half clash with genuine relegation implications for both sides, and given the pressure already building around each manager, the atmosphere inside the ground is likely to be tense from the first whistle.

Team News

Malaga have a lengthy injury list that is making Funes’ job significantly harder. Despite having a strong Copa del Rey win over Alcazar to look back on, the squad depth is being tested badly right now.

• Juan Cruz, Angel Recio, Diego Murillo, Pablo Martinez, Joaquin Munoz, Julen Lopete and Aaron Ochoa are all ruled out through fitness issues.
• Adrian Nino is fit and expected to lead the attack once again after a solid season so far.

Racing are also dealing with absences heading into this one. Jorge Salinas returns from suspension which is a boost for Jose Alberto, but there are still players missing.

• Andres Martin remains sidelined with a muscular problem.
• Alvaro Mantilla is out after picking up an injury against Real Madrid last weekend.
• Yassir Zabiri is fit and will lead the line for the visitors.

Predicted Lineups

Funes looks set to name the same starting XI that faced Real Betis. There is not much logic in breaking up a unit that at least showed some fight in that defeat, and with so many bodies already missing, the gaffer has limited options anyway. Nino will be the focal point up top, looking to add to his five league goals this season.

Malaga: Herrero; Puga, Calero, Galilea, Rafita; Enriquez; Larrubia, Dotor, Lorenzo, Aznou; Nino

For Racing, Salinas comes straight back into the back line after his suspension, which should sharpen up a defence that has been a complete disaster this season. Zabiri leads the attack after a genuinely impressive personal campaign.

Racing de Santander: Agirrezabala; Felipe, Ramon, Belocian, Salinas; I Martin, Prati; Luque, Canales, Vicente; Zabiri

Recent Form

Malaga’s league form is as bad as it looks on paper. No wins from eleven games is a damning record at any level, let alone in La Liga. The 2-1 defeat to Real Betis was their most recent setback, and while they can point to a 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Alcazar on October 27 as a small confidence boost, cup form against lower league opposition does not really tell you much about where this team is. The fundamental problem is goals. Eight in eleven league games is comfortably the worst attacking return in the division, and no matter how hard you work defensively, you simply cannot survive a relegation battle if you cannot score.

Racing come into this having been hammered 3-0 by Real Madrid at home last weekend, which was not exactly a shock on paper but will have dented confidence nonetheless. Their season record of three wins, two draws and six defeats puts them in 16th, one spot above the relegation zone, with eleven points. Crucially, they have scored fifteen league goals this season, nearly double Malaga’s tally. Zabiri alone has eight in eleven appearances, which is a remarkable return for a 21 year old in his first full top flight campaign. The concern is that Racing’s defence is genuinely horrifying. Twenty nine goals conceded in eleven games is the worst in the entire division by some distance, eight more than Malaga. They are gifting opponents chance after chance, and while they have the firepower to hurt teams going forward, they keep leaving themselves exposed at the back.

The contrast in styles here is fascinating. Malaga cannot score. Racing cannot stop conceding. Something has to give, and that tension could make this either a cagey, nervy low scorer or a genuinely chaotic afternoon depending on which Racing side turns up.

Head-to-Head Record

Across thirty meetings in all competitions, Malaga lead the overall head to head with thirteen wins to Racing’s nine. But the recent history tells a very different story. Malaga have not beaten Racing in their last six encounters, with their most recent victory coming way back in February 2020 when both clubs were competing in the Segunda Division. Racing have actually won three of the last five games between these two sides and picked up a point on their last visit to La Rosaleda in last season’s second tier campaign.

That recent record gives Racing genuine reason for confidence despite heading into this match with their own struggles. When these two meet, it has not been going Malaga’s way, and that is a psychological weight that Funes’ players will need to shake off if they are going to finally get that first league win on the board.

Key Stats

• Malaga have not won a single La Liga game this season from eleven attempts, the only club in Spain’s top flight without a league victory.
• Racing de Santander have conceded 29 league goals in eleven games, the worst defensive record in La Liga by eight goals.
• Yassir Zabiri has scored eight goals in eleven league appearances this season, an average of nearly a goal per game for the 21 year old striker.

Malaga vs Racing de Santander Betting Tips

This is a game between two struggling sides with very different problems. Malaga cannot score and Racing cannot defend, which creates an intriguing betting puzzle. The draw feels like the most logical outcome on paper, but the nature of both squads means there are some interesting angles to dig into across the specific markets below.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Racing’s defence is leaking goals at a genuinely alarming rate, and even a Malaga side that has struggled to score should find opportunities here. Nino has been their most reliable outlet, and with Zabiri capable of punishing any defensive error at the other end, goals feel likely. Under 2.5 looks too risky given Racing’s record, so over 2.5 goals is the call.

Cards Prediction

Both clubs are deep in a relegation fight and playing with a degree of desperation, particularly Malaga on home turf needing a result badly. That tension tends to produce niggly, physical football and the kind of tackles that get referees reaching into their pockets. Over 3.5 cards feels very playable in a fixture with this much at stake.

Correct Score Prediction

A 1-1 draw feels like the most likely outcome here. Malaga have enough at home to get on the scoresheet, Nino has the quality to nick one, but Racing’s attacking threat through Zabiri makes it difficult to back a clean sheet for the hosts given how porous both defences have been. A point each seems the most probable result.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Yassir Zabiri is the standout pick in this market. Eight goals in eleven league games is a remarkable return for a young striker, and he is clearly the focal point of everything Racing do going forward. At La Rosaleda against a Malaga side that has shipped 21 league goals, he has every chance of getting on the scoresheet.

Corners Prediction

Malaga will push for a winner given the pressure they are under at home, which means plenty of attacking play and crosses into the box. Racing’s own attacking intent through Zabiri and the wide players should also generate set piece opportunities. Over 9.5 corners is a reasonable shout for a game where both sides will be getting bodies forward in search of goals.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes. Malaga have Adrian Nino in form with five league goals, and they will be desperate to break their duck in front of their own supporters. Racing have the worst defence in La Liga and are very likely to concede, while Zabiri and their forward line have shown repeatedly they can score against anyone. Both teams to score looks well backed by the evidence.

Bet Builder Tip

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals are closely aligned given the attacking quality and defensive fragility on both sides, and Zabiri landing first goalscorer adds serious value given his current run of form.

Final Match Prediction

Malaga’s first league win of the season will come eventually, but there is very little evidence to suggest this is the weekend it finally happens. They have been here before, taking positives from performances without converting them into three points, and Racing despite their own struggles have shown they know how to get something from this fixture in recent years.

Zabiri will be a constant danger, Racing’s attack is lively enough to cause problems, and Malaga’s inability to put games to bed means that even if they take the lead, holding on is not something they have shown they can do consistently. A 1-1 draw feels right. A point for Malaga that does nothing to close the gap to safety, and a point for Racing that keeps them nervously above the drop zone heading into the international break.

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