- Home and away form: Malaga have failed to win any of their 3 home league matches this season (D2, L1). Espanyol have 1 away win and 2 away losses in 3 away league games in LaLiga 2026/2027.
Lack of goals could lead to Pericos’ victory at La Rosaleda
Form and recent results
Espanyol's record of 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats from their last 5 games in all competitions shows they are in mixed form coming into their LaLiga 2026-2027 game against Malaga on Friday. Their last two games ended in a 2-1 away loss to Rayo Vallecano and a 3-1 home defeat to Elche, leaving them on back-to-back losses.
Goalscorers and chances
However, their goal-scoring form is better than Malaga's and that may be the deciding factor in this game, which looks set to be a close and narrow battle. The Pericos have the more prolific goalscorer in Roberto Fernandez, who has bagged 6 goals in 7 league games for Espanyol and 4 of their last 5 goals in the league.
Tactics and Malaga's struggles
Manolo Gonzalez's 4-2-3-1 system, which has been in place since 12 March 2024, is more patient, control first and press only when the trigger is pulled. It should lead to a more of a chess game than an end-to-end shootout, which could suit Espanyol more, although Malaga's high-tempo wide game could certainly stretch the visiting block.
Juan Funes' Malaguistas have failed to impress in their first 7 games of the LaLiga 2026-2027 campaign, so they are 20th in the standings with only 3 points.
Espanyol have a better goal-scoring return
Coach and system
Funes took charge on 19 November 2025 and has settled on a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system that makes good use of the width and youth of his squad and sets his team up to press their opponents aggressively.
Players and betting
Under 2.5 goals at 1.8 is the most obvious play here and both teams to score at 1.75 is the livelier alternative. Malaga are not a bad value bet at 2.62 and nor are Espanyol, which points to a evenly-matched game, but we'll take the Pericos at 2.62 because they are in better form and have better players on paper.
- Adrian Nino has 1 goal in 3 in the Spanish top-flight, which makes him the most lethal Malaga player, but Juan Cruz has 1 assist in 7 and brings the craft between the lines they need in the final third.
- Malaga have scored an average of 0.67 goals per game at home in the LaLiga 2026-2027 so far, so we will take Espanyol's extra scoring power to push them over the line if they can land the first punch.
