With only 11 games played and 27 still to come, the table is merely an early snapshot, but Malaga have endured a slow start. They sit 20th with five points and are the only side in the division still searching for an opening win, having drawn two and lost three of their last five outings. They stopped a two-game skid last time out by grinding out a 1-1 draw away at Alaves, but must now translate parity into maximum points at La Rosaleda.

Racing Santander have also had an uneven start to the season, sitting 16th on 11 points after 11 matches. They snapped a three-game winless slide last weekend with a 2-1 home victory over Espanyol, but their form outside Santander has been dismal, having failed to collect a single point on their travels in the competition.