Match Information
Our pre-match preview Written before kick-off — see what we expected from this match
Match Overview
Malaga host Deportivo La Coruna at Estadio La Rosaleda on August 24, 2026, in a Regular Season - 2 fixture that already carries early-season significance for both sides. Malaga sit 18th in the table, while Deportivo La Coruna occupy 8th, and although it is only Matchday 2, the contrast in league position gives this meeting an early-season narrative around who settles into the campaign faster.
Malaga's start to the league season has been difficult, having lost their opening fixture 2-0 away to Atletico Madrid on August 19 under manager Juan Funes. That defeat, combined with a mixed pre-season log including a draw with Fulham and a loss to AD Ceuta FC, suggests a side still searching for cohesion and goals in competitive fixtures. Deportivo La Coruna, under Antonio Hidalgo, opened their league campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Elche on August 17, a result that at least kept them unbeaten in their first league test, following a pre-season schedule featuring a narrow friendly loss to Real Madrid and draws against Fiorentina and FC St. Pauli.
Form heading into this match favors the visitors slightly on the balance of results, with Deportivo avoiding defeat in their opening league match while Malaga fell to a two-goal loss against top-tier opposition. Given the early stage of the season, both managers will be assessing how their pre-season work translates into league points, making this an important early marker for each side's trajectory in Regular Season - 2.
Neither club has reported any injury absences, meaning both Juan Funes and Antonio Hidalgo should have full squads to select from, adding selection clarity to what is otherwise a contest between an out-of-form home side and a Deportivo team looking to build on an unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Predicted Lineups
Malaga
Alfonso Herrero; Carlos Puga, Ángel Recio, Einar Galilea, Rafa Garrido; Izan Merino, David Larrubia, Carlos Dotor, Dani Lorenzo, Joaquín Muñoz; Chupete
Deportivo La Coruna
L. Roman; X. Navarro, L. Noubi, B. Ede, G. Quagliata; M. Soriano, L. Amatucci, A. Altimira, B. Nsongo, J. Asp; P. Aubameyang
Team Form Analysis
Malaga
League Position: 18Malaga Form Analysis
Malaga's recent form makes for concerning reading ahead of this fixture. Their La Liga campaign opened with a 2-0 away defeat to Atletico Madrid on August 19, a result that offered little in the way of attacking output or defensive solidity against elite opposition. Looking further back at their pre-season schedule, Malaga drew 2-2 with Fulham at home on August 12, lost 2-1 away to AD Ceuta FC on August 7, beat Al-Arabi SC 4-2 at home on August 6, and drew 2-2 with Al-Ittihad FC on July 30. While the friendly results show some attacking capability, with seven goals scored across two of those matches, the competitive league opener suggests defensive vulnerabilities remain unresolved. Sitting 18th in the table after just one round, Malaga will need a marked improvement in both organization and end product to move away from the bottom of the standings. This match at Estadio La Rosaleda represents an early opportunity to register their first league points of the campaign.
Deportivo La Coruna
League Position: 8Deportivo La Coruna Form Analysis
Deportivo La Coruna enter this match with a steadier recent trajectory. Their La Liga opener produced a 1-1 home draw against Elche on August 17, a result that kept them unbeaten to start the season. In pre-season action, they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid at home on August 12, before an away win over Genoa (1-0 on August 8) and draws against Fiorentina (1-1, August 6) and FC St. Pauli (2-2, August 1). This body of work suggests a well-organized side capable of competing with strong opposition, having taken points off or narrowly lost to high-level teams in preparation matches. Currently 8th in the table, Deportivo's underlying form points to defensive resilience, having conceded only modestly across recent outings against varied opposition. Under Antonio Hidalgo, the side will look to build on their unbeaten league start and carry their pre-season competitiveness into what is a notable early test on the road at Malaga.
Head-to-Head
Malaga
Deportivo La Coruna
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | Deportivo La Coruna | 1 - 1 | Malaga |
| 2025-10-12 | Malaga | 3 - 0 | Deportivo La Coruna |
| 2025-01-11 | Malaga | 1 - 1 | Deportivo La Coruna |
| 2024-10-06 | Deportivo La Coruna | 0 - 0 | Malaga |
| 2020-07-08 | Malaga | 1 - 0 | Deportivo La Coruna |
| 2019-10-20 | Deportivo La Coruna | 0 - 2 | Malaga |
| 2019-06-15 | Malaga | 0 - 1 | Deportivo La Coruna |
| 2019-06-12 | Deportivo La Coruna | 4 - 2 | Malaga |
| 2019-02-24 | Malaga | 0 - 0 | Deportivo La Coruna |
| 2018-10-07 | Deportivo La Coruna | 1 - 1 | Malaga |
Memorable Matches
The history between these two clubs includes some notable results. On April 4, 2026, the sides played out a 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna, continuing a fixture that has often produced tight contests. A more one-sided affair came on October 12, 2025, when Malaga secured a 3-0 home win over Deportivo La Coruna. Earlier meetings also showcased attacking quality on both sides, notably the June 12, 2019 clash which Deportivo La Coruna won 4-2, one of the highest-scoring encounters between the two clubs in the recorded history. These matches highlight a fixture capable of producing both cagey draws and free-scoring afternoons.
Venue Factor
Estadio La Rosaleda provides the backdrop for this Regular Season - 2 encounter, with Malaga looking to their home fans for support after an opening-day defeat away at Atletico Madrid. Home advantage will be important for a Malaga side currently sitting 18th in the table and in need of a positive result to kickstart their league campaign. Deportivo La Coruna, meanwhile, travel to Malaga on the back of an unbeaten start to their league season, and their pre-season trips to Genoa, Fiorentina, and FC St. Pauli suggest a squad accustomed to away fixtures. The atmosphere at La Rosaleda is likely to be significant given the contr
Injury Concerns
Malaga
Deportivo La Coruna
