The 2018/19 Spanish Segunda Division league season has ended. The final matches took place last weekend but we already knew Osasuna and Granada had sealed their place back in the top-flight with automatic promotion.
We didn’t know all the teams who would be contesting the playoffs but now we do and on Wednesday 12th June Deportivo La Coruna will host Malaga at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor Stadium. This is the first leg of a two-leg semi-final and the winner will go on to meet either Albacete or Mallorca in the final.
Deportivo La Coruna finished 6th in the Segunda Division this season and are the lowest placed team in the playoffs. They needed to defeat relegated Cordoba at home and did so 2-0. Cadiz slipped-up at Sporting Gijon where they lost 1-0 and Real Oviedo, the other team in contention for 6th place also lost.
Trends show Deportivo La Coruna enjoyed some good form towards the end of the league season. They have lost one of their last seven games and won four. The wins have come at home against Mallorca and Cordoba and away to Numancia and Real Zaragoza.
Despite winning their last two home matches, wins have not been easy to come by at home for Deportivo La Coruna. They have won two of their last ten, losing three and drawing five. Deportivo La Coruna have seen under 2.5 goals in six of their last seven games on home soil.
Malaga ended the regular campaign very strongly, winning each of their final five games. Trends show they have lost just one of their last eight as they went on to finish 3rd in the table. Following the 1-1 draw at Cadiz, Malaga have beaten Real Oviedo, Real Zaragoza and Elche at home plus Reus and Albacete away.
Away form is good and Malaga have lost just one of their last thirteen away league matches. They have scored a goal in eight of the last nine on the road but have also conceded in six of the last eight. Malaga have seen under 2.5 goals in ten of their last thirteen away games.
Looking ahead to the team news and Deportivo La Coruna are likely to go with the same team which won on the final day of the season. Carlos Fernandez could start up-front with support from Borja Valle and Pedro in attacking midfield.
Malaga have been relying on Adrian to score the bulk of their goals this season but the midfielder is injured. Gustavo Blanco was suspended for the previous game but will come back into contention for this match.
Malaga have been the better team in recent weeks but Deportivo La Coruna will hope to make home advantage count. This game could see under 2.5 goals and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the match end level.