Málaga and Levante draw in La Liga debut of 2026

The goalless draw between Málaga and Levante on September 6, 2026, underscores the Andalusian side's early-season struggles in La Liga. The result keeps Málaga in the last spot of the table, while Levante remains in tenth place.

Teams' positions in the table

After four matches, Málaga sits 18th with only two points. Their goal difference is negative, with one win, two draws and two defeats, having scored just one goal and conceded seven. At the other end, Levante is 10th with five points, showing a more balanced performance: one win, two draws and one loss, scoring five goals and conceding the same number.

Match details

The game was held at La Rosaleda Stadium, officiated by Luis Bestard Servera. Málaga, coached by Juan Funes, started with Alfonso Herrero, José Salinas, Einar Galilea, Ángel Recio, Rafita, Dani Lorenzo, Pablo Martínez, Carlos Dotor, Juan Cruz, Chupe and David Larrubia. Levante, led by Luís Castro, lined up M. Ryan, Manu Sánchez, A. Mandi, Adrián de la Fuente, Nacho Pérez, Oriol Rey, T. Fernández, Jon Ander Olasagasti, E. Bardeli, Roger Brugué and Iván Romero.

Match statistics

Málaga dominated possession, holding the ball 62.2% of the time versus Levante's 37.8%. In passing, the home side completed 284 passes at 88.4% accuracy, while the visitors made 173 passes with a 76.3% success rate. Despite the possession edge, Málaga managed only two shots on target compared with Levante's one. Total shots were equal, six each. Málaga committed nine fouls and received three yellow cards (Rafita, Dani Lorenzo and Pablo Martínez). Levante received no cards and committed four fouls.

Pre‑match context

Before the encounter, Málaga had been struggling to find the net in open play, a trend noted by bookmakers and the specialist press. Levante arrived with greater confidence after a 5‑2 victory over Real Betis in the previous match, influencing market odds. The odds suggested a slight edge for a draw or an away win, reflecting the recent performance gap between the clubs.

Next steps

With the draw, Málaga remains under pressure from the relegation zone, sharing the bottom spot with Elche and Valencia, who have one point fewer. Levante, meanwhile, stays clear of the drop zone, consolidating its position in the mid‑table. The next round of La Liga will bring new challenges for both sides as they aim to solidify their performances in a season that began with stark contrasts.

Information sourced from BBC, ToffeeWeb.