Game Preview: Real Madrid vs. Malaga - La Liga - October 19th, 2013

Real Madrid are hosts to Malaga in the ninth round of Spanish La Liga on Saturday, October 19th, 2013 at Santiago Bernabeu. The kick-off is at 4pm local time.

Real Madrid need this win. After eight games played they are five points behind Barcelona and Atletico and on Wednesday they have a tough game against the Italian champions Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, followed by a visit to Barcelona for the league's El Clasico. Show of good form against Malaga, after a on and off start to the season, is just what the doctor ordered. Looks like Gareth Bale will be available to play.

With the departure of head coach Manuel Pellegrini to Man City, and their star player Isco to Real Madrid among others, Malaga are not a team that other teams fear at the moment. They are in tenth place in the league with two wins, three draws and three losses. Most recently Malaga lost to eighteenth place Osasuna, at home, with the score of 0-1.

The odds for the upcoming match at Santiago Bernabeu are:

Real Madrid: 1/5
Draw: 6/1
Malaga: 10/1

Real Madrid are the huge favourites to win this match at home. A 100 € bet on Los Blancos could return 20 € in profit, while the same bet on Malaga could return 1,100 € in profit.

The most likely score, according to the odds is a 2-0 victory for the home side, valued at 15/2.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has seven La Liga goals so far this season, is the favourite to score on Saturday at 4/11, followed by Isco and Benzema at 10/11. Mounir El Hamdaoui and Roque Santa Cruz are the favourites to score for Malaga at 11/2.

Can Real Madrid make a statement ahead of two huge matches vs. Juventus and Barcelona, or are they in for another grueling domestic matchup?

Let's see how this one plays out.