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Levante can avoid defeat on trip to lowly Malaga

Mid-table Levante have lost only one of six away games

Levante drew 1-1 with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this season
Levante drew 1-1 with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this seasonCredit: Getty Images

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Malaga have lifted themselves off the bottom of La Liga after back-to-back home wins but they are still firmly entrenched inside the drop zone and look poor-value odds-on favourites to beat mid-table Levante at La Rosaleda.

Survival has become the priority for Malaga, who exited the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as a 1-1 draw at home to Segunda Division Numancia completed a 3-2 aggregate defeat.

The absence of a potentially distracting cup run may eventually work in Malaga's favour but in the short term the result was another blow to their fragile confidence.


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The main reason they are in so much trouble is their porous defence.

They haven't kept a clean sheet in 15 matches this season and their La Liga defensive record of 28 goals conceded in 13 games is the second worst in the division.

Malaga head coach Michel will look at the Levante game as a winnable fixture but so will his opposite number Juan Lopez Muniz.

After winning promotion as Segunda champions last season, Levante have adjusted reasonably well to their new surroundings, winning three, drawing six and losing four.

They had their worst experience of the season last Saturday when they lost 5-0 at home to Atletico Madrid but responded with a 1-1 draw at home to Girona in the Copa del Rey, enough for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

They have avoided defeat in five of their six away games this season including a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid and odds-against prices that they take at least a point from Malaga look too good to miss.

Recommendation
Levante or draw double chance
1pt 21-20 bet365

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com


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