Málaga 1-3 Villarreal: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
La Liga Matchday 6 · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Estadio La Rosaleda, Málaga · referee M. Ortiz Arias · full time
Full time: Málaga 1-3 Villarreal
Villarreal won 3-1 away at Málaga in La Liga Matchday 6 on Thursday 17 September 2026. The goals: Carlos Dotor 12', Alberto Moleiro 40', Pape Gueye 45+2', Pape Gueye 86'.
How Villarreal won it
Málaga struck first through Carlos Dotor in the 12th minute, set up by Juan Cruz. Villarreal levelled at 1-1 in the 40th minute through Alberto Moleiro, set up by Ilias Akhomach. Villarreal turned it round: Pape Gueye made it 1-2 in the 45th minute (+2), set up by Ayoze Pérez. Pape Gueye from the penalty spot made it 1-3 to Villarreal in the 86th minute.
It was 1-2 at half-time.
Pape Gueye scored twice.
The lead changed hands once.
The referee, M. Ortiz Arias, showed 6 yellow cards: 5 to Málaga and 1 to Villarreal.
Málaga: J. Funes Arjona, 4-1-4-1 · Villarreal: I. Pérez Soto, 4-4-2.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 3.57 for Málaga and 0.64 for Villarreal.
Málaga scored about 2.6 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.
Villarreal made more of their chances than the xG suggests, by about 2.4 goals.
Málaga created the better chances, 3.57 xG to 0.64, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Málaga had 1 shot on target, Villarreal 7.
Villarreal had 63% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Málaga came into it with 8 La Liga matches played, scoring 0.5 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 0.87 expected goals for and 1.78 against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Villarreal came into it with 7 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.9 and conceding 1.7 a match, with 2.28 expected goals for and 1.34 against, and had won 29% of their matches.
Málaga vs Villarreal: the match in numbers
| Málaga | Match statistics | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| 37% | Ball possession | 63% |
| 3.57 | Expected goals (xG) | 0.64 |
| 5 | Total shots | 16 |
| 1 | Shots on target | 7 |
| 0 | Big chances | 7 |
| 350 | Total passes | 600 |
| 81% | Pass accuracy | 90% |
| 4 | Corners | 8 |
| 17 | Fouls | 10 |
| 1 | Offsides | 3 |
| 26 | Tackles | 11 |
| 3 | Saves | 0 |
| 5 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Pape Gueye (Villarreal), rated 8.6 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals.
Málaga
- Carlos Puga 7.1
- Ángel Recio 7.0
- Carlos Dotor 7.0 1 goal
- Rafita Garrido 7.0
- Juan Cruz 6.9 1 assist
Villarreal
- Pape Gueye 8.6 2 goals
- Alberto Moleiro 8.3 1 goal
- Alex Freeman 7.2
- Ilias Akhomach 7.0 1 assist
- Tajon Buchanan 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Alfonso Herrero at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Málaga: Málaga vs Real Sociedad Sunday 18 October 2026 · La Liga
- Villarreal: Real Madrid vs Villarreal Saturday 10 October 2026 · La Liga
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Málaga vs Villarreal
What was the score in Málaga vs Villarreal?
Málaga 1-3 Villarreal (half-time 1-2), La Liga, Thursday 17 September 2026.
Who scored in Málaga vs Villarreal?
Carlos Dotor 12', Alberto Moleiro 40', Pape Gueye 45+2', Pape Gueye 86'.
Did Moneyball predict Málaga vs Villarreal correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Málaga vs Villarreal?
Pape Gueye, rated 8.6 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Málaga vs Villarreal?
M. Ortiz Arias.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.