Málaga vs Espanyol: Funes and Manolo González reset after the break

Málaga host Espanyol in LaLiga EA Sports matchday eight with the international break acting as a reset: Funes’ side are still searching for their first victory after seven rounds, while Manolo González’s team arrive with negative feelings following a run of inconsistent results.

Málaga’s squad for the game includes key absences: Cajuste, Lobete, Murillo and Ochoa miss out. Salinas is also unavailable again due to the “cláusula del miedo”, since he is on loan from Espanyol. Funes does get two returns, with Calero and Aznou back after the defeat to Getafe left the team shaken.

Returns with hunger

On the Espanyol side, Puado returns after a long injury layoff. The captain is back too, and Roberto Fernández returns to the club he previously called home. As MARCA notes, Roberto will face a Málaga he holds in high regard and with the aim of keeping his goalscoring streak going, while Málaga want their main striker to finally find the net.