Almeria vs Malaga Predictions

The new season in the Spanish Segunda Division is just two games old but already Malaga are setting the early pace as they bid to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt. They face an Andalusian derby here against Almeria and this Monday’s clash will give us further idea of just how well equipped both sides are to challenge this term.

Almeria were also in the top flight as recently as 2014-15. While teams like Rayo Vallecano and Getafe have found it relatively easy to bounce back from relegations, Almeria are a good example of how tough that can be. They’ve finished in the bottom half in each of their three seasons in the Segunda and only survived by virtue of having the best of the head-to-head with Cultural Leonesa last term.

Therefore, Almeria aren’t really a team you’d expect to challenge for promotion and if Malaga have eyes on going up, they need to be targeting wins in matches such as this. They’ve responded to relegation by appointing Juan Muñiz as their new boss. It’s actually his third time in the role and it has been a pretty good start for the returning coach.

Malaga have taken maximum points from their opening two matches and their ability to grind out wins bodes well here in what is likely to be another tight game. They scored twice in the final four minutes to see off Lugo on the opening day and needed another late goal to beat Alcorcon last time out. All of their three goals have come in the 82nd minute or later. That may point to them being in good shape fitness-wise and it will certainly give them belief here.

Almeria meanwhile have only conceded twice, with both goals coming in the final fifteen minutes so there could be value in backing Draw/Malaga HT/FT at pretty long odds.

Going for Malaga to Win also appeals though. Almeria have struggled over a long period of time now and have won just 2 of their last 16 Segunda Division matches. Their start to this season doesn’t bode well and up against one of the promotion favourites, they’ll do well to get any sort of a result.

All of their last 8 league matches have produced under 2.5 goals in total and with Malaga looking very solid at the back at this level, backing a 1-0 Away Win looks good in the Correct Score market.