Málaga and Villarreal battle for survival at La Rosaleda
On Thursday, Málaga host Villarreal in a clash between the two bottom-placed clubs in La Liga, both desperate for points.
Two teams at the bottom of the table
Málaga and Villarreal meet on Thursday at the Estadio La Rosaleda, with both clubs currently occupying the lowest positions in La Liga. Sources differ slightly on the exact kickoff: one states the match takes place on 18 September 2026 at 02:30, while another refers to a Thursday evening fixture, suggesting a possible time-zone discrepancy in reporting.
Before the match, Málaga sat 18th with just 3 points, while Villarreal were immediately below them in 19th place with 2 points. Both sides have struggled recently. One source reports that Málaga have failed to win any of their last five matches (two defeats, three draws), while Villarreal have lost three and drawn two in the same span. Another source gives a somewhat different picture, noting that Málaga drew their last two matches (against Levante and Celta), while Villarreal lost their last three league games — against Alavés, Deportivo and Betis — and, counting a Champions League defeat to Dortmund, have lost four in a row overall.
History and tactics
In the last five head-to-head meetings, Villarreal hold the edge with three wins, one draw and only one defeat to Málaga. Given both teams' poor current form, the match is expected to be cautious and defensively focused, with each side wary of conceding a costly mistake.
Málaga coach Funes, according to a report citing El Periódico Mediterráneo, warned his team will need to score at least two goals to win, arguing that despite their low league position, Villarreal are dangerous going forward, averaging more than 15 shots per match. He suggested their underlying statistics would befit a Champions League contender.
Málaga will be missing Adam Aznou and Jens Cajuste, while striker Adrián Niño returns to the squad. Villarreal will be without Juan Foyth. The match will be refereed by Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, who, as one source notes, previously sent off Álvaro Arbeloa during a summer friendly between Málaga and Fulham.
