La Liga Gameweek 6
Malaga 1 - 3 FT Villarreal
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Futmetrix Verdict
97
Bournemouth
vs
AC Milan
Thu, Oct 22 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
37
⚖️ Balance
84
🏆 Stakes
50
⭐ Stars
100
High-stakes European clash at Vitality Stadium.
Futmetrix Verdict
85
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Sturm Graz
1-0
Marseille
⚡ Form
7
⚖️ Balance
85
🏆 Stakes
50
⭐ Stars
83
Futmetrix Verdict
100
Beşiktaş
vs
Crystal Palace
Thu, Oct 22 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
41
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
50
⭐ Stars
100
Vlahović powers a high-stakes European test
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
12' Carlos Dotor (Juan Cruz)
34' José Salinas
↓ Santi Comesaña ↑Pape Gueye 37'
Alberto Moleiro (Ilias Akhomach Chakkour) 40'
45' ↓ Juan Cruz ↑Dani Lorenzo
45' ↓ José Salinas ↑Rafael Garrido Hierro
Pape Gueye (Ayoze Pérez) 45'+2
HT
61' ↓ Izan Merino ↑Joaquín Muñoz
61' ↓ Carlos Dotor ↑Adrian Nino
↓ Ayoze Pérez ↑Georges Mikautadze 63'
↓ Ilias Akhomach Chakkour ↑Carlos Romero 63'
68' David Larrubia
70' Einar Galilea
75' ↓ Carlos Puga ↑Ramón Enríquez
79' Ramón Enríquez
↓ Alberto Moleiro ↑Álvaro Santiago Mouriño González 80'
↓ Nathan-Dylan Saliba ↑Carlos Macià 80'
Carlos Romero 82'
85' Alfonso Herrero
Pape Gueye 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Malaga
Goalkeepers
Alfonso Herrero 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Puga 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Ángel Recio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Einar Galilea
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
José Salinas
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
45%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Izan Merino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
David Larrubia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Dotor 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Pablo Martínez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Cruz 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.4
Rating
Forwards
Chupe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Carlos López 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Juan Berrocal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Pastor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Lorenzo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafa Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ramón Enríquez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Fernandez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eneko Jauregi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joaquín Muñoz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adrián Niño Heredia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Villarreal
Goalkeepers
Péter Gulácsi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
90
Minutes
Defenders
Alexander Freeman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Navarro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Renato Veiga 
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
91
Passes
4
Duels
Sergi Cardona
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Tajon Buchanan 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Santi Comesaña 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Nathan-Dylan Saliba
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Alberto Moleiro
MAGNET
57
Activity
57
Activity
54
Passes
3
Duels
Forwards
Ilias Akhomach
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.4
Rating
Ayoze Pérez
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
BENCH
Rubén Gómez
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Luíz Júnior
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Santiago Mouriño
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Romero 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Logan Costa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pape Gueye 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
8.2
Rating
Alassane Diatta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Macia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Georges Mikautadze
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gerard Moreno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tani Oluwaseyi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolas Pépé
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/01/2018 | Malaga | 1 - 0 | Villarreal | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 11/05/2017 | Villarreal | 2 - 0 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| 02/12/2017 | Villarreal | 1 - 1 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| 09/10/2016 | Malaga | 0 - 2 | Villarreal | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 02/13/2016 | Villarreal | 1 - 0 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| 09/23/2015 | Malaga | 0 - 1 | Villarreal | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 05/17/2015 | Villarreal | 2 - 1 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| 01/10/2015 | Malaga | 1 - 1 | Villarreal | La Liga | Estadio La Rosaleda (Málaga) |
| 04/21/2014 | Malaga | 2 - 0 | Villarreal | La Liga | Estadio La Rosaleda (Málaga) |
| 11/29/2013 | Villarreal | 1 - 1 | Malaga | La Liga | Camp El Madrigal (Villarreal) |
04/01/2018
11/05/2017
02/12/2017
09/10/2016
02/13/2016
09/23/2015
05/17/2015
01/10/2015
04/21/2014
11/29/2013
Malaga Win
Villarreal Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 5 GD: +17
P: 6 GD: +11
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +5
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 5 GD: +1
P: 5 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -7
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 5 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: -3
P: 6 GD: -8
P: 6 GD: -8
League Standings
P: 9 GD: +30
P: 9 GD: +11
P: 9 GD: +14
P: 9 GD: +2
P: 9 GD: 0
P: 9 GD: -2
P: 9 GD: +3
P: 9 GD: +3
P: 9 GD: +1
P: 9 GD: -8
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 9 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 9 GD: -6
P: 9 GD: -1
P: 9 GD: -12
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 9 GD: -6
P: 9 GD: -9
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Malaga
Villarreal
Malaga
Villarreal
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Super-Sub Gueye Orchestrates Villarreal's Vital Relegation Fightback
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 85/100. Our take is that this relegation six-pointer proved how tactical substitutions and relentless pressure can completely rewrite a script after a disastrous start.
Early False Dawn
The atmosphere at Estadio La Rosaleda was electric for a true relegation six-pointer. Both sides walked onto the pitch desperate for a lifeline out of the drop zone, pushing the Stakes to a fever pitch. Early on, the hosts capitalized on that nervous energy. In the 12th minute, Carlos Dotor sent the home faithful into delirium, latching onto a slick pass from Juan Cruz to slot home the opener. Malaga looked perfectly set up to defend their lead, absorbing pressure and trying to frustrate the visitors. The early tempo suggested a scrappy, disjointed affair where a single goal might be enough, but beneath the surface, the visitors were slowly beginning to monopolize the ball.
The Yellow Submarine Surges
The match completely flipped just before the interval, shredding any sense of Balance. Villarreal began to utterly dominate possession, eventually holding 63% of the ball. The relentless pressure paid off in the 40th minute when Alberto Moleiro leveled the score, finishing off a sequence sparked by Ilias Akhomach Chakkour. But the real masterstroke happened moments prior when Pape Gueye was introduced in the 37th minute. The Senegalese midfielder instantly turned up the Intensity, making an immediate impact by scoring deep in stoppage time (45+2') after a clever feed from Ayoze Pérez. The sudden 1-2 punch left the hosts stunned heading into the tunnel.
Penalty Seals the Deal
Returning for the second half, the Yellow Submarine engineered an absolute attacking siege, outshooting their hosts 16 to 5. The home side barely mustered a response, managing just 0.63 expected goals all evening. Drama flared in the 82nd minute when VAR intervened to deny Carlos Romero a goal, briefly giving the home fans a glimmer of hope. However, that minimal Upset Factor vanished just four minutes later. Gueye stepped up to convert a decisive penalty in the 86th minute, completing his brace and capping off a stellar 3.33 xG performance for the visitors. The 3-1 victory offers a massive psychological boost for the away side, leaving the hosts anchored to 18th place and searching for answers.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR intervened in the 82nd minute to cancel a goal by Carlos Romero, briefly keeping the hosts in the game before a late penalty sealed it.
How did Malaga complete the comeback from behind?
Malaga actually failed to complete a comeback. They scored the early opener, but relentless pressure and tactical substitutions allowed the visitors to score three unanswered goals.
How did substitute P. Gueye change the game?
Entering in the 37th minute, Pape Gueye transformed the midfield, scoring twice—including a crucial stoppage-time strike and a late penalty—to secure the vital away victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Early Desperation at Estadio La Rosaleda
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 21/100. An ugly but critical early-season scrap between two winless sides desperate to escape the relegation zone.
The Setup
Both teams have endured a miserable start to the campaign. Malaga sit in 19th with just one point, desperately needing to improve their dismal Form. Villarreal are only marginally better in 16th. A high Balance rating suggests this will be a tight, tense affair, even if the overall Stakes feel modest this early in September. There is a severe lack of Stars on display, making this a true battle of grit over glamour.
Key Battle
With zero margin for error, expect a grueling contest in the middle of the park. The home side's defensive unit must find a way to contain an away midfield that will look to dictate the tempo. It will be a war of attrition rather than a tactical masterclass.
Our Prediction
Villarreal possess slightly more quality and are narrow favorites. Expect them to grind out a 1-0 victory, exposing the fragile confidence of the hosts in a tense, low-scoring affair.