For the first time since the 2006-07 campaign, Malaga and Real Sociedad will square off in the Copa del Rey, with their round of 32 clash taking place on Sunday at La Rosaleda.
Los Albicelestes advanced into the third round of this competition thanks to a 1-0 triumph at home to Eldense last month, while La Real beat Andratx by that same score in their second-round affair.
Match preview
© Reuters
Malaga began 2024 by erasing a pair of one-goal deficits away to Intercity, coming away with a 2-2 draw and extending their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions.
Sergio Pellicer has his side in a solid position to earn a promotional playoff in the third tier of Spanish football at the very least, sitting third in group two in the 2023-24 Primera Federacion table, six points behind Castellon for an automatic place in the Segunda Division next season.
In his second stint as club manager, the 50-year has guided them into the third round of the Copa del Rey for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign, when Granada knocked them out at this stage (2-1).
Their solid defensive shape has carried them into a playoff position domestically, and it has also got them into this stage of the Copa del Rey, with Los Boquerones conceding the second-fewest goals in the Primera Federacion (14) while they have yet to concede in this competition.
Half of their points domestically in 2023-24 (18 of 36) have come at La Rosaleda, where Malaga have only suffered one defeat this season (2-1 versus CD Alcoyano).
Four of their seven victories against La Liga opponents in this competition have occurred on their home ground, including a convincing 4-1 triumph over Real Sociedad in the opening leg of their fourth-round clash in 2006-07, winning that tie 5-3 on aggregate.
© Reuters
Some more late heroics saved Real Sociedad in their previous encounter, as they overcame a 36th-minute red-card versus Alaves this week, extending their unbeaten run in La Liga to seven consecutive matches.
It is the third time domestically this season that Txuri-Urdin have claimed a point despite conceding the opening goal, as they continue to hold down the final European place in the Spanish top flight, currently four points above Real Betis for sixth and a spot in the Conference League playoff round next season.
Imanol Alguacil's men have yet to concede a goal in the Copa del Rey this season, winning both of their contests by a 1-0 score, while they are unbeaten in seven successive away fixtures in all competitions, posting four clean sheets over that stretch.
The club from San Sebastian have won eight of their last nine away fixtures in this competition, with their only defeat over that span coming at the hands of Barcelona at the Camp Nou in last season's quarter-finals (1-0).
Real Sociedad have advanced beyond the third stage of this tournament in each of the previous five campaigns, making it into the last eight in each of the previous two seasons.
La Real have never won a Copa del Rey encounter versus Malaga at La Rosaleda, while they have not beaten them in a competitive fixture since the 2016-17 La Liga campaign (2-0 away from home).
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
Team News
© Reuters
We saw our share of new faces in the Malaga starting 11 in their second-round Copa del Rey encounter, with Carlos Lopez, Bilal, Einar Galilea, Antonito and Loren Zuniga being the only ones to keep their place in the opening lineup from their first-round affair.
After putting home their go-ahead penalty in the opening round versus Barakaldo, Juanpe had the only goal last month against Eldense to help them advance into this stage, while Lopez has yet to concede in this competition.
Real Sociedad will be without Martin Merquelanz until early February due to a sore knee, while Artiz Elustondo is dealing with a muscle injury.
Andre Silva had the only goal in their second-round triumph over Andratx, while Unai Marrero only had to make two stops to collect his second clean sheet of the competition.
Malaga possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Bilal, Diarra, Galilea, Garcia; Juanpe, Rodriguez; Molina, Larrubia, Dioni; Zuniga
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Marrero; Elustondo, Le Normand, Pacheco, Munoz; Kubo, Merino, Turrientes, Zakharyan; Sadiq, Fernandez
We say: Malaga 0-1 Real Sociedad
Malaga might be able to frustrate the visitors thanks to a well-disciplined defensive shape, but Sociedad know what it takes to overcome these close games, and that has us leaning towards them advancing into the last 16.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
