Spain - Primera Division
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Played
December 22, 2012 7:00 PM GMT
Estadio La Rosaleda — Málaga
Referee:‬ Alejandro Hernández‎
Attendance:‬ 28004‎
 
49′ Isco
Sergio Sánchez 66′ (OG)
73′ Roque Santa Cruz
Karim Benzema 82′
76′ Roque Santa Cruz
 

Malaga - Real Madrid Preview: Los Boquerones look to close gap on visitors

Manuel Pellegrini's side can move within two points of the struggling Castilian giants in the Primera Division standings with victory at La Rosaleda on Saturday

More On :  Malaga, Real Madrid CF, Malaga vs Real Madrid CF
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid v Espanyol
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS


MALAGA

Caballero
 Gamez, Demichelis, Onyewu, Monreal Iturra, Camacho
Joaquin, Isco, Eliseu
 Santa Cruz

REAL MADRID


Casillas
 Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao
 Khedira, Alonso
 Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
 Benzema

Malaga will be without captain Weligton against Real Madrid, after the defender picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-0 win over Sevilla.

Oguchi Onyewu is likely to deputise for Weligton at the back, while Julio Baptista and Jeremy Toulalan are also sidelined.

Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao picked up a muscle problem in the 2-2 draw with Espanyol and is a minor doubt.

Raphael Varane, Raul Albiol and Gonzalo Higuain remain absent, but Karim Benzema (ankle) is available.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Malaga have won just three of their last 12 matches in all competitions (W3, D5, L4).
  • The Andalusians have lost their last five encounters with Real Madrid across all competitions.
  • Malaga have been drawn with Porto in the Champions League round of 16.
  • Real Madrid have won just two of their last five away matches in all competitions.
  • Los Merengues will face English giants Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16 on February 13 and March 5.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured, right) has scored four goals in his last five outings for Real in all competitions.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Malaga 1-3 Real Madrid CF
    13.02 %
  • Malaga 2-1 Real Madrid CF
    9.38 %
  • Malaga 1-2 Real Madrid CF
    7.71 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 8, 2013 Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Dec 22, 2012 Malaga 3 - Real Madrid CF 2
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Mar 18, 2012 Real Madrid CF 1 - Malaga 1
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Jan 10, 2012 Malaga 0 - Real Madrid CF 1
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Jan 3, 2012 Real Madrid CF 3 - Malaga 2
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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
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Odds
Returns: Malaga £45.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £75.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Real Madrid £1510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
13Willy CaballeroGoalkeeper
2Jesús GámezDefender
5Martín DemichelisDefender
17MonrealDefender
21Sergio SánchezDefender
6CamachoMidfielder
7JoaquínMidfielder
18EliseuMidfielder
27PortilloMidfielder
22IscoMidfielder
-Javier SaviolaStriker
1Carlos KameniGoalkeeper
5Oguchi OnyewuDefender
16Manuel IturraMidfielder
17DudaMidfielder
-Diego BuonanotteMidfielder
11Sebastián Fernández MiglierinaStriker
9Roque Santa CruzStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
27NachoDefender
8KakáMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
26MorataStriker
Players to Watch
Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
30 8 2 0
The Paraguay international could again get the nod over Javier Saviola to lead Malaga's attack, owing to his greater aerial ability. The 31-year-old will look to take advantage of the vulnerability Real have shown at the back in recent matches.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
29 10 0 0
The Frenchman has struggled for form this season, netting just three goals in 13 appearances in La Liga. With Gonzalo Higuain still missing out through injury, Benzema will need to do more as the focal point of Real's attack and help claw back the 13-point deficit to Barcelona.
Prediction
Malaga are in a decent run of form and will consider this a great opportunity to topple Real, who are in disarray on and off the pitch. Injuries, loss of form and dressing-room squabbles have all but ended the Blancos title challenge, and they could drop more points here.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 1
Real Madrid 1
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