Sporting Gijon vs Malaga Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This really is a massive game in terms of the whole relegation battle in La Liga. Osasuna and Granada look all but doomed to the drop but a Sporting Gijon victory here would really bunch the 4 teams immediately above those sides together and set us up for an intriguing final couple of months. However, should Malaga win this game, the current bottom three would increasingly look the three sides heading for the Segunda Division. On current form at least, there’s not much chance of that happening.

Malaga have been dreadful for several months now, winning just 1 of their last 18 games in all competitions. They’ve had 3 different coaches during that period and the latest man to try and fail to stop the rot is Michel. Malaga come into this match having taken just 1 point from their last 6 league games and the goals have really dried up too with only 2 scored by them during those six matches.

Their away record also makes for grim reading and will offer further hope for Sporting Gijon. Malaga average just 0.47 points per game on the road this season. They haven’t won any of their last 19 away games in all competitions since a 1-0 win at Betis over 12 months ago.

Sporting Gijon have a huge opportunity here and they’ll be targeting maximum points, although they do have to contend with several suspensions. Unlike Malaga, they have shown real fight and the occasional moment of quality in recent weeks. They’ve only lost 3 of their last 8 league games, which is pretty good going when you consider they’ve played 3 of the current top 4 during that run. They ground out an excellent draw at Sevilla on Sunday and will head into this game unbeaten in 3 matches and with a real sense of belief at last.

They won a crucial relegation six-pointer against Granada in their last outing at El Molinon, which should also breed confidence and with Malaga looking so poor, the value here looks to be found by backing Sporting Gijon 0.00 Asian Handicap at 1.980.