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La Liga 2016-2017: Barcelona vs Malaga, Preview, Prediction & Predicted Lineup

| Nov 18, 2016 08:12 PM EST

Barcelona players Luis Suárez (L) and Lionel Messi.

Defending champions FC Barcelona (8-2-1, 25 points) will look to win their fifth straight game in the 2016-2017 La Liga season as they host mercurial side Malaga CF (4-4-3, 15 points) at the Camp Nou on Nov. 19, Saturday.

Start Time and Streaming Info

The game starts at 10:15 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.

Barcelona continues to rely on Lionel Messi's other-worldly playmaking skills to pile up victories in La Liga. The Argentine forward is back in their lineup this weekend after coming from a 1-1 international stint in the CONMEBOL 2018 World Cup qualifiers in the past week.

In their last La Liga game on Nov. 6, Barça nipped fellow contenders Sevilla on the road at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, as per SkySports.

Sevilla midfielder Vitolo opened the scoring in the 15th minute of the match, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by Sergi Roberto.

However, it was Messi again who orchestrated the remarkable comeback. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner netted the equalizer in the 43rd minute with a calm side-footed strike off an assist by Neymar.

Messi then assisted what would be the winning goal to Luis Suárez in the 61st minute as the duo beat Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico.

Barcelona remained in the second spot of the league table, only two points behind current league-leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Malaga escaped with a high-scoring 3-2 victory over bottom three team Sporting Gijon at their home ground of La Rosaleda Stadium on Nov. 4, the Gulf Digital News reported.

Head coach Juande Ramos' side took advantage of a 10-man Sporting squad to hit the winning goal in the 78th minute courtesy of Uruguayan forward Michael Santos.

Sporting defender Lillo was booked for a second yellow in the 71st minute for a foul on Malaga midfielder Juan Carlos with the score tied at 2-2. Seven minutes later the deadlock was broken to give the hosts their second win in their last three games.

Prediction and Predicted Lineup

The predicted result is a 3-0 rout for Barcelona.

Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): ter Stegen; Roberto, Mascherano, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, D. Suárez; Messi, L. Suárez, Neymar

Malaga starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Kameni; Rosales, Torres, Villanueva, Carlos; Fornals, Camacho; Rodriguez, Juanpi, Castro; Sandro

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