Spain - Primera Division
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Played
January 7, 2012 9:00 PM GMT
Estadio La Rosaleda — Málaga
Referee:‬ José Teixeira‎
Attendance:‬ 25000‎
 

La Liga Preview: Malaga v Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone makes his managerial debut at the big-spending Andalusian side on Saturday, as La Liga swings back into action after the winter break

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Atletico Madrid, Malaga, Malaga vs Atletico Madrid
Ruud van Nistelrooy - Malaga
Ruud van Nistelrooy - Malaga

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

MALAGA

Caballero
Sanchez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal
Toulalan, Apono
Cazorla, Fernandez, Isco
Van Nistelrooy
ATLETICO MADRID

Courtois
Perea, Godin, Dominguez, Filipe
Tiago, Koke
Salvio, Diego, Turan
Falcao

Portuguese midfielder Tiago could make a return to the Atletico Madrid starting line-up as Diego Simeone looks to kick off his reign at the capital club with a positive result.

Koke and Eduardo Salvio are also in contention for starting berths, while Luis Perea is set to make a return at right-back. The Argentine coach will be without Jose Antonio Reyes after sanctioning his move to Sevilla in a €3.5 million deal on Thursday.

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has no fresh injury concerns and could field the same team that narrowly lost the midweek Copa del Rey match against Real Madrid.

Long-term injury absentee Julio Baptista remains out of the first team picture, while Spanish winger Joaquin misses out with a muscle tear. Defensive duo Helder Rosario and Kris Stadsgaard sit out with calf injuries.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Malaga are on a three-game winless streak in all competitions.
  • Santi Cazorla (pictured) is Malaga's top scorer this season with four goals.
  • The Andalusian club have a sizeable British following due to the large number of British expatriates residing on the Costa del Sol.
  • Atletico Madrid have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.
  • Colombian ace Radamel Falcao is the capital club's leading scorer this season with nine goals.
  • Diego Simeone, who began his coaching career in 2006, is in his seventh managerial job at Atletico Madrid.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Malaga 2-1 Atletico Madrid
    15.13 %
  • Malaga 2-0 Atletico Madrid
    14.54 %
  • Malaga 1-2 Atletico Madrid
    9.79 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Mar 3, 2013 Malaga 0 - Atletico Madrid 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Oct 7, 2012 Atletico Madrid 2 - Malaga 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 5, 2012 Atletico Madrid 2 - Malaga 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 7, 2012 Malaga 0 - Atletico Madrid 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 7, 2011 Atletico Madrid 0 - Malaga 3
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Last Five Matches
Malaga
May 12, 2013Malaga 0 - Sevilla 0LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Granada 1 - Malaga 0LIGA
Apr 28, 2013Malaga 2 - Getafe 1LIGA
Apr 20, 2013Valencia CF 5 - Malaga 1LIGA
Atletico Madrid
May 22, 2013Singapore Selection 0 - Atletico Madrid 2FR
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 12, 2013Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
May 8, 2013Celta 1 - Atletico Madrid 3LIGA
May 4, 2013Deportivo 0 - Atletico Madrid 0LIGA
Odds
Returns: Malaga £95.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £34.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Atl. Madrid £110.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
13Willy CaballeroGoalkeeper
2Jesús GámezDefender
3WeligtonDefender
5Martín DemichelisDefender
17MonrealDefender
8Jérémy ToulalanMidfielder
19Santi CazorlaMidfielder
-Diego BuonanotteMidfielder
22IscoMidfielder
23RondónStriker
26JuanmiStriker
25Rubén Martínez AndradeGoalkeeper
-Joris MathijsenDefender
21Sergio SánchezDefender
23ApoñoMidfielder
6Vincenzo MarescaMidfielder
17DudaMidfielder
22Ruud Van NistelrooyStriker
13Thibaut CourtoisGoalkeeper
2Diego Godín LealDefender
6Filipe LuisDefender
15Álvaro DomínguezDefender
20JuanfranMidfielder
14L. PereaDefender
5TiagoMidfielder
8Toto SalvioMidfielder
14GabiMidfielder
10Diego RibasMidfielder
9Radamel FalcaoStriker
25Sergio AsenjoGoalkeeper
6Antonio LópezDefender
23MirandaDefender
4Mario SuárezMidfielder
11Arda TuranMidfielder
19KokeMidfielder
7AdriánStriker
Players to Watch
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 19
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The versatile Spaniard is Malaga's leading scorer this season and his playmaking skills will be key for the Andalusian club's Champions League aspirations.
Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
33 28 7 0
Atletico's record signing has made an immediate impression in his first season in Spanish football. A threat in the air and on the deck, Falcao will be looking to add to his goal tally and put Atletico on track towards European qualification.
Prediction
It is Diego Simeone's first game in the Atletico dugout and the new coach syndrome may well have the desired effect on Saturday. Add to this the fact that Atletico are the fresher team and they should have enough to hold their affluent hosts.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 2
Atl. Madrid 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3