Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. (Photo : Getty Images)
Reeling team Malaga CF (5-6-6, 21 points) will try to snap a four-game winless spell as they square off with contending squad Real Sociedad (9-6-2, 29 points) on Monday, Jan. 16 at their home field of La Rosaleda Stadium as round 18 of the 2016-2017 La Liga season concludes.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Malaga has not tasted victory in their last four outings and has also been winless in five of their last six matches to drop to the 13th spot in the current league table. They are now only nine points above the bottom three relegation area and eight points below Real Sociedad.
Los Boquerones were romped by middling side Celta Vigo, 1-3, on the road at the Balaídos Stadium last Sunday as the team succumbed to their second straight defeat, as per Sofa Score.
Os Célticos started the game strongly, breaking the game's deadlock right in the seventh minute with a right-footed shot by Spanish forward Iago Aspas.
The hosts then scored two more goals in the second half, courtesy of Daniel Wass and Andreu Fontas in the 60th and 73rd minute, to make it a 3-0 lead before an own goal by Wass gave Malaga a consolation goal in the 86th.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad snapped a two-game winning run after being thrashed by powerhouse team Sevilla, 0-4, at their home ground of Anoeta Stadium last Saturday, Daily Mail Online reported.
Head coach Eusebio Sacristán's side was not able to score any goals against a tough Sevillistas defense while the visitors buried four goals against theirs.
Sevilla forward Wissam Ben Yedder was the catalyst of his team's attack, scoring a hat trick in the 25th, 29th, and 83rd minutes while teammate Pablo Sarabia netted a goal in the 73rd to hand Txuriurdin their sixth loss this season.
Sociedad is currently in the sixth spot in the La Liga table, only two points behind fourth-running team Atletico Madrid and the final Champions League qualifying berth for next season.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-0 bounce back romp by Real Sociedad.
Malaga starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Kameni; Juan Carlos, Villanueva, Rosales, Torres; Castro, Fornals; Camacho, Santos, Recio; Sandro
Real Sociedad starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Rulli; Berchiche, Martinez, Gonzalez, Zaldua; Granero, Prieto, Illarramendi; Oyarzabal, Vela, Jose
