UEFA Champions League
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Played
December 4, 2012 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio La Rosaleda — Málaga
Referee:‬ D. Aytekin‎
Attendance:‬ 21769‎
 
45′ Duda
Milan Jovanović 50′
61′ Duda
Mbokani 89′

Malaga - Anderlecht Preview: Los Boquerones look to preserve unbeaten record

Manuel Pellegrino's side will be out to finish their impressive group stage debut on a high while their visitors can still secure a place in the Europa League

By Harry Slavin

More On :  Anderlecht, Malaga, Malaga vs Anderlecht
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

MALAGA

Caballero
Gamez, Sanchez, Weligton, Eliseu
Toulalan, Camacho
Portillo, Isco, Joaquin
Saviola
ANDERLECHT

Proto
Gillet, Kouyate, Juhasz, Safari
Biglia, Kljestan
Bruno, Praet, Jovanovic
Mbokani

Malaga will be without influential defender Martin Demichelis in their final group stage match against Anderlecht on Tuesday after the Argentine centre-back picked up his third booking in the competition against Zenit St Petersburg last time out.

Sergio Sanchez looks set to take his place in defence and make his third appearance in this year's competition as Manuel Pellegrini's men look to end the their Group C campaign undefeated.

Manuel Iturra is back in contention for a European place after serving his suspension while goalkeeper Willy Caballero trained on Sunday despite picking up a knock in the Andalusian side's 1-0 defeat to Getafe at the weekend.

Anderlecht can still qualify for the Europa League and will finish third if they can better Zenit's result against AC Milan, but the Belgian side will have to do this without Bram Nuytinck after his dismissal against Milan in their last Champions League encounter.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Malaga have lost back to back matches for the first time this season after their defeat at the hands of Getafe at the weekend.
  • Los Boquerones have one of the meanest defences in the Champions League having conceded just three goals, only Group A's Paris Saint-Germain and Porto have conceded fewer.
  • If the home side avoid defeat, this will be the second time Manuel Pellegrini has guided a side unbeaten through their group stage debut, having managed the feat with Villarreal in 2005/2006.
  • Javier Saviola (pictured, right) scored in his only competitive outing against Belgian opposition before this season, netting for Barcelona against Club Brugge in the 2002/03 season.
  • The last time Anderlecht set foot on Spanish soil, they secured a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in 2009/10.
  • The Belgian side's next Champions League goal will be their 50th in the competition's history.
  • John van den Brom's side have already opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Belgian Jupiler League.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Malaga 2-0 Anderlecht
    18.11 %
  • Malaga 2-1 Anderlecht
    15.23 %
  • Malaga 3-1 Anderlecht
    12.76 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Dec 4, 2012 Malaga 2 - Anderlecht 2
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Oct 3, 2012 Anderlecht 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
Anderlecht
Mar 16, 2013KAA Gent 1 - Anderlecht 1BEL1
Mar 9, 2013Anderlecht 1 - KV Mechelen 0BEL1
Feb 27, 2013Anderlecht 0 - SV Zulte-Waregem 1BEL1
Feb 24, 2013Club Brugge 2 - Anderlecht 2BEL1
Feb 15, 2013Anderlecht 2 - Royal Charleroi SC 0BEL1
Odds
Returns: Malaga £19.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £150.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Anderlecht £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Carlos KameniGoalkeeper
3WeligtonDefender
21Sergio SánchezDefender
5Oguchi OnyewuDefender
8Jérémy ToulalanMidfielder
16Manuel IturraMidfielder
17DudaMidfielder
18EliseuMidfielder
-Diego BuonanotteMidfielder
11Sebastián Fernández MiglierinaStriker
9Roque Santa CruzStriker
13Willy CaballeroGoalkeeper
2Jesús GámezDefender
6CamachoMidfielder
7JoaquínMidfielder
22IscoMidfielder
27PortilloMidfielder
26JuanmiStriker
1Silvio ProtoGoalkeeper
3Olivier DeschachtDefender
16Cheikhou KouyatéDefender
20Behrang SafariDefender
5Lucas Rodrigo BigliaMidfielder
19Sacha KljestanMidfielder
26Dennis PraetMidfielder
30Guillaume GilletMidfielder
45Massimo BrunoMidfielder
14Milan JovanovićStriker
25MbokaniStriker
13Thomas KaminskiGoalkeeper
8Denis OdoiDefender
27Marcin WasilewskiDefender
-G. MolinsMidfielder
55Fernando Canesin MatosMidfielder
70R. VargasMidfielder
21Tom de SutterStriker
Players to Watch
Isco
Isco
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 22
Games Goals YC RC
10 3 1 0
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has won a host of admirers with his displays in this season's competition, leading to rumours of a January switch to Manchester City. Anderlecht will be hoping he is rested for this one, but if not then his creativity could be key.
Mbokani
Mbokani
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 25
Games Goals YC RC
8 6 3 0
The Belgian outfit have scored just a single goal away from home in the competition and they will need to display far greater firepower if they are to overcome Malaga. The 27-year-old striker has one goal to his name in Europe this season and must be at his best if his side are to force a result.
Prediction
Malaga have been the surprise package of this season's tournament and it is difficult to see the Belgium champions taking anything from this encounter.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 2
Anderlecht 0
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0