Zero wins against five away defeats: Málaga vs Racing Santander prediction – 07.11.2026
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Málaga will host Racing Santander at La Rosaleda in the 12th round of the Spanish La Liga season. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00 local time. Both newly promoted clubs have struggled to adapt to the demands of the top flight, and this encounter carries enormous importance in the battle to avoid relegation. Málaga remain rooted to the bottom of the table, while Racing are only slightly better off despite a considerably stronger attacking record.
Málaga: Eleven matches without a victory and growing pressure
Málaga's return to La Liga has been extremely disappointing. Juanfran Funes' side occupy 20th place with just five points from eleven matches, having recorded five draws and six defeats. Their attacking struggles are obvious, with only eight goals scored, while the defence has already conceded 21.
The team's latest league outing ended in a 2-1 defeat away to Real Betis. Málaga fell two goals behind before halftime but improved considerably after the break. Adrián Niño reduced the deficit in the 68th minute, although the visitors failed to complete their comeback.
Despite the disappointing results, Niño has emerged as one of the few bright spots. The young striker has scored five league goals, finding the net in four consecutive league appearances. His finishing ability will be crucial against a Racing defence that has struggled badly away from home.
Málaga have also suffered from numerous personnel problems. Julen Lobete and Aarón Ochoa remain sidelined, while Juan Cruz and Pablo Martínez are working individually as they recover from injuries. There is better news regarding Ángel Recio, who has recovered from illness, while Joaquín Muñoz has partially returned to group training.
Funes has recently experimented with his defensive structure in an attempt to reduce the number of goals conceded. However, Málaga have still failed to win any of their five home league matches, recording three draws and two defeats.
Racing Santander: A dangerous attack, but disastrous away performances
Racing Santander have enjoyed slightly more success since returning to Spain's top division. José Alberto López's team sit 16th with eleven points from eleven matches, collecting three victories and two draws alongside six defeats.
The Cantabrian club have scored 15 goals, almost twice as many as Málaga. However, their defensive statistics are even more alarming: Racing have conceded 29 goals, the worst record of the two teams.
Their home form has been relatively encouraging, but away matches have been a completely different story. Racing have lost all five league games on the road, conceding 18 goals in the process. Heavy defeats against Barcelona (2-7) and Celta Vigo (0-5) highlighted their vulnerability whenever opponents manage to exploit the spaces behind their defensive line.
In their most recent league fixture, Racing suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Real Madrid, losing their unbeaten record at El Sardinero.
The biggest concern now is the defensive situation. Captain Álvaro Mantilla suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Real Madrid and will be unavailable for this match. Andrés Martín has also been diagnosed with a hamstring tear, further limiting José Alberto's attacking options.
Nevertheless, Racing possess a genuine difference-maker in Yassir Zabiri. The Moroccan forward has already scored eight league goals in eleven appearances, establishing himself as one of La Liga's most productive attackers. Íñigo Vicente, who has provided three assists, remains another important creative outlet.
With both teams desperate for points, Racing cannot afford another defensive collapse, particularly against a direct competitor in the relegation battle.
Probable lineups
- Málaga: Alfonso Herrero; Carlos Puga, Fernando Calero, Einar Galilea, Rafita; Ramón Enríquez; David Larrubia, Carlos Dotor, Dani Lorenzo, Adam Aznou; Adrián Niño.
- Racing Santander: Julen Agirrezabala; Pablo Ramón, Pedro Felipe, Jeanuël Belocian, Jorge Salinas; Iván Martín, Lucas Prati; Iker Luque, Íñigo Vicente, Canales; Yassir Zabiri.
Match facts and head-to-head statistics
- Málaga have failed to win any of their opening eleven La Liga matches.
- Racing Santander have lost all five away league games, conceding 18 goals.
- Racing have conceded 29 goals in eleven league fixtures, compared with Málaga's 21.
- Adrián Niño has scored in four consecutive league matches.
- Yassir Zabiri has scored eight of Racing's 15 league goals.
- The teams' most recent meeting, in May 2026, finished 1-1 at La Rosaleda.
Prediction: Defensive weaknesses could produce an entertaining contest
This is a difficult match to assess in terms of the final result. Málaga have home advantage and a strong motivation to secure their first league victory, but their poor form makes them difficult to trust. Racing have a more productive attack, yet their record away from Santander is disastrous.
The clearest common weakness is defensive instability. Málaga have conceded almost two goals per league match, while Racing are allowing more than 2.6. Even their relatively cautious approaches have not prevented opponents from creating dangerous opportunities.
The hosts should find encouragement in Racing's problems on the road, especially with Mantilla unavailable. At the same time, Zabiri's finishing and Vicente's creativity give the visitors the ability to exploit Málaga's defensive mistakes.
Although recent head-to-head meetings have generally been tight, the current defensive records suggest this encounter could follow a different pattern. Both teams urgently need points, and an early goal could force the opposition to take greater risks.
With Niño in excellent scoring form and Racing consistently involved in high-scoring matches, backing at least three goals looks like an attractive option.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals.
