- Atletico Madrid have won two and lost three of their last five matches.
- Malaga CF have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five games.
Runaway favourites need to get the job done
The odds of 13/50 on Atletico Madrid to win Wednesday's LaLiga 2026-2027 match against Malaga CF are almost impossible to get around, but it's very difficult to have them not come out on top.
Oscar Fernandez has been Atletico's coach since 1 July 2021 and his side still have that trademark compact, hard-to-breach identity.
They come into this game on the back of a two-game losing run after away defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City in the Friendly Club Matches 2026, but have won their two most recent home fixtures, which gives them a good platform to grind out a result at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Spain.
Fernandez has alternated between a 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 system with his side so far, but they're always tight and compact with a disciplined low block and a potent counter-attack. Ademola Lookman has been their main predator in the box this term, bagging three goals in the last five, and he looks like the most likely source of a goal.
Malaga will bring an up-tempo approach
Juan Funes has done a tremendous job since taking over as coach of Malaga CF on the 19th November 2025, and his young side come into this with a lot of energy, but also the tactical awareness and discipline to make it tough.
Malaga have won four, drawn five and lost just one of their ten games across all competitions, which reads as a stubborn team who are hard to break down. Their results have been a mixed bag of a defeat, a victory and a draw in their most recent three games, beating Al Arabi 4-2, losing 2-1 away to AD Ceuta FC and drawing 2-2 with Fulham in their three most recent matches.
They set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 hybrid with width, quick combinations. Set-piece threat is well baked into the plan, and Malaga could get chances in the game.
Atletico should be able to keep it in control
Atletico are the heavy favourites at 13/50, with Malaga second at 17/2 and the draw third at 41/10, which makes the home win the best bet here. We don't believe this will be a shootout, as Atletico should be able to contain Malaga if they keep the ball in the centre of the pitch. Both teams to score is a split opinion, but if you're going to side with one it has to be No, as Atletico can keep this in control. That makes BTTS No a decent bit of value at 31/50, and a 1-0 or 2-0 Atletico win has the numbers behind it best.
