Malaga vs Sporting Gijon Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Malaga have made real strides in recent weeks after a slow start to life under Juande Ramos. They’ve won 3 matches in a row at home coming into this one and have looked as dangerous going forward as they have done for some time. They’ve scored 2 or more goals in all of those last 3 home games, netting 4 in their most recent one against Leganes. They also scored twice at the Vicente Calderon last weekend, which is an almost impossible thing to do, so certainly they are going a long way to shunning their defensive reputation.

Injury problems at the back, which will effect them again here, have played their part in perhaps leading them towards a more attacking approach as they can’t rely on their current back-line to hold firm for 90 minutes and they may need more than 1 goal to win this. One big reason for their improvement in the final third has been Sandro Ramirez. The 21 year old appeared 10 times for Barca in La Liga last term without scoring but seems to be benefiting from his move South and has 4 goals in 6 matches coming into this one so he looks a good bet at 6/5 to get his name on the score-sheet here.

As for Sporting Gijon, they look like a poor side but have at least ended a 5 game losing streak with draws in their last two matches. They have weaknesses at both ends of the pitch and have conceded 1.90 goals per game on average so far this term and have collected only 2 points on the road and they were both against sides currently in the bottom six with them.

Malaga should have too much for them here, despite their injury problems and will most likely look to take the game to them as they did a fortnight ago when they outclassed Leganes with some good attacking football. Only 4 sides have better home records than Malaga so far this season and backing Malaga – Over 1.5 Team Goals at 10/11 looks a solid punt here, given the goal-scoring form they are in. It also looks a slightly safer bet than backing them to win outright at shorter odds given their defensive selection problems.