The ‘Malaguista’ team is in 17th place in the table with 9 points, following 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats. Meanwhile Betis is in 13th place with 12 points, having accumulated 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. Málaga is hoping to clinch the third consecutive victory at La Rosaleda, where the team has earned 8 of the 9 league points (defeating Real Sociedad by 3-1, and Deportivo by 2-0), scoring 5 goals and conceding 2.
Two of MCF’s highest scoring matches have been against Betis, in the First Division, at the Martiricos ground. A 5-0 win in the 8th match of the 2005/06 campaign, with goals from Salva Ballesta (2), Pablo Couñago (2) and Fernando Sanz; and a 4-0 victory in the 6th match of the 2012/13 season, thanks to goals from the now Betis player, Joaquín, Saviola, an own goal by Amaya and Isco. The last Málaga-Betis LaLiga clash was in 2013/14 in the 12th match of the season, which ended in a local victory (3-2) with ‘Malaguista’ goals by Santa Cruz, Eliseu and Samuel García, and for the visitors; Verdú and Jordi Figueras.
To take into account:
- If Weligton plays, he will overtake Jesús Gámez in the number of matches played in the First Division with Málaga. ‘Weli’ and Gámez have both racked up 193 games, sitting in third place behind Duda (280) and Fernando Sanz (205) in this division.
- Kameni has taken part in 48 consecutive league matches: 38 complete matches in 2014/15, and 10 so far this season, 2015/16. He is close to matching ‘Koke’ Contreras, who accumulated 50 matches on the run between 1999/2000 and 2000/2001.
- Javi Gracia has never lost a match as coach against Real Betis, accumulating 3 wins and 1 draw in 4 matches. As coach, Pepe Mel has come up against Málaga 6 times, resulting in 3 victories, 1 draw and 2 defeats.
- Betis lost during the last two visits to Málaga in November. As CD Málaga (3-0, on 6/11/1966 in the Second Division) and as Málaga CF (3-2, on 3/11/2013 in the First Division).
- The referee: Prieto Iglesias has refereed Málaga 6 times, resulting in 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats for the Blue and Whites; and officiated Betis 3 times, with 1 victory and 2 defeats for the Sevilla-based side.
