The Blue and Whites, who sit 17th in the table with three points, welcome a Villarreal side currently 18th with two points.
Madrid-born referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz will take charge of the #MálagaVillarreal clash, with fellow Madrid official Carlos del Cerro overseeing proceedings from the VAR.
Players in common Málaga CF-Villarreal CF
Cornago, Solaeta, Sánchez Broto, Gerardo, Josemi, Calleja, Kiko Olivas, Pere Martí, Jordi Pablo, Toribio, Edu Ramos, Cazorla, Uche, Samu García, Adrián López, Asenjo, Samu Castillejo, Pablo Fornals, Pau Torres, N’Diaye, Iturra, Ontiveros and Fran Sol
(*) Chakla, a former Villarreal CF player, played for Atlético Malagueño, while former Málaga CF players Harper and Javi Jiménez featured for Villarreal ‘B’
Coaches in common Málaga CF-Villarreal CF
Manuel Pellegrini
(*) Javi Gracia, former Málaga CF coach, played for Villarreal CF from 1999 to 2003 and coached Villarreal ‘B’ in 2010/11; Javi Calleja, a former Villarreal CF coach, played for Málaga CF from 2006 to 2009
Players in common CD Málaga-Villarreal CF
Jorge Vaquer, Esteve, Palomo and Makanaky
(*) Fidel Uriarte, a CD Málaga player in the 1970s, went on to coach Villarreal CF in the 1990s
Coaches in common CD Málaga-Villarreal CF
None
Match info
• Alfonso Herrero, Recio and Chupe are the Malaguistas who have played every minute (450) of the league campaign.
• Berrocal made his official Malaguista debut in the previous match against RC Celta. Calero and Aznou, two of the club’s summer signings, are yet to make their debuts.
• Chupe and Niño are Málaga’s goalscorers so far this season, while Nicolas Pépé and Gerard Moreno lead Villarreal’s scoring charts with two goals apiece.
• Málaga CF have drawn both of their home games at La Rosaleda so far (1-1 against RC Deportivo and 0-0 against Levante UD). Villarreal are yet to win away from home, having drawn 2-2 against Real Racing Club and Atlético de Madrid and lost 1-0 to Alavés.
Stats and facts
• Málaga CF and Villarreal CF have met 15 times in the top flight at La Rosaleda. Málaga have recorded six wins, five draws and four defeats, scoring 17 goals and conceding 15.
• There was also another meeting between Málaga and Villarreal at Martiricos in the second leg of the Intertoto Cup final. After winning the first leg 0-1, Málaga CF lifted the European trophy that earned them a place in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup after a 1-1 draw. Mikel Roteta was the scorer for the ‘Peiró Boys’.
• CD Málaga and Villarreal CF never faced each other in an official match at La Rosaleda.
• On matchday 6 of their previous 17 seasons in the First Division, Málaga CF recorded six wins, seven draws and four defeats.