Analysis: Real Madrid and Malaga do not have much to play for
Eleven points separate league leaders Barcelona from current Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid. Meanwhile, there are 12 more points at stake ahead of Matchday 35. A draw between Real and Malaga would not declare Barca champions yet. This is because head-to-head counts above goal difference in Spain. Having drawn 2-2 at the Camp Nou and triumphed 2-1 at the Bernabeu in El Clasico this season, Real Madrid have the advantage when it comes to head-to-head.
Should Los Blancos suffer an upset on Wednesday, the Catalans will be declared title winners before Sunday’s fixture away to Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s men have all but secured the second spot in La Liga. That said, there is basically no added pressure for Real Madrid to play in the league. The remaining games appear as opportunities to warm up for the Spanish giants’ last chance for silverware: the 2012/13 Spanish Cup. The final will take place in a few weeks from now and Mourinho – widely rumoured to be on his way out of the Bernabeu – will want a happy ending to this eventful season.
As for Malaga, they have been banned from participating in Europe next season. However, they will want to remain in the Top Six for the sake of pride by bouncing back from last weekend’s shocking defeat to relegation-threatened Granada.
Malaga’s form away from home has been very poor of late. Their record inscribes a 4-2 loss away to Real Sociedad and a 5-1 trouncing in the hands of Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium. After failing to find the back of the net away to Granada, Manuel Pellegrini’s players will be eager to embarrass Real Madrid’s defence – guilty of conceding three times against Real Valladolid last Saturday.
Last three league meetings
October 22, 2011: Malaga 0-4 Real Madrid
March 18, 2012: Real Madrid 1-1 Malaga
December 22, 2012: Malaga 3-2 Real Madrid
How the top two in La Liga looks like ahead of Week 35
| POS. | TEAM | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | D | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRIMERA DIVISIÓN 2012/2013 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Barcelona | 34 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 105 | 37 | +68 | 88 | |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 89 | 34 | +55 | 77 | |
Prediction
Interestingly, Los Blancos have not beaten Malaga in two of their last three matches. However, tensions in the dressing room of Mourinho are high with the Casillas-Lopez saga. The ‘Only One’ will do whatever it takes to guide his team to victory, even if it means playing ugly.
Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga
