Atletico Madrid vs Malaga predictions and betting tips | Will Simeone’s side start with success?

Our Atletico Madrid vs Malaga predictions consider the first game of the season for Diego Simeone’s side. Will Atletico pick up all three points as La Liga returns?

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga head to head overview

• Date: Wednesday 19th August. 
• Kick-off: 8pm.
• Venue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain.
• Where to watch: Premier Sports 1.

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga quick tips

• Atletico Madrid to win to nil – 9/10 with Betfred
• Atletico Madrid to win the second half – 4/6 with Midnite
• Julian Alvarez to score any time – 23/20 with Tote

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga predictions

The La Liga season got under way last weekend, but Atletico Madrid are the first of the big three to take to the field in 2026/27.

Real Madrid and Barcelona do not get going until Saturday and Sunday respectively, so Atletico have the chance to move ahead of their title rivals on Wednesday night.

Diego Simeone is entering his 15th full season in charge of a club he has transformed since taking the reins in December 2011.

The Argentinian has won two La Liga titles and plenty more trophies during his decade and half at the helm of Madrid’s second side.

Atletico are once again third-favourites for the championship this season. Realistically, they need both Madrid and Barcelona to underperform in order to have a chance of topping the pile.

The bookies price them at 18/1 at best, with Barcelona available at 3/4 and Madrid listed at a top price of 11/10.

Atletico only managed a fourth-place finish last term. Since then they have lost a talismanic figure in Antoine Griezmann, although the club have spent €135m on Alex Grimaldo, Lee Kang-in, Morten Hjulmand and Cristian Romero, an Atletico player if ever there was one.

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga tips

Atletico Madrid kick-start their La Liga season against Malaga on Wednesday night.

Tricky start for Malaga

Malaga will provide the opposition to Atletico Madrid on matchday one. Promoted via the play-offs last season, survival is the aim of the game this time around.

Promoted teams are always among the favourites for the drop, so Malaga will have to surprise a few people if they are to achieve their principal goal for 2026/27.

A trip to Atletico Madrid is not an ideal way to mark their return to the top tier. It is hard to see Malaga getting anything from this trip to the capital.

Diego Simeone’s side can get off and running for the campaign with a victory and a clean sheet in front of their own fans.

Tip Atletico Madrid to win to nil at 9/10 with Betfred

Atletico will get stronger

Malaga’s best hope of springing a surprise on Wednesday is by keeping things tight at the back and then hitting Atletico Madrid on the counter-attack.

Juan Francisco Funes’s men will have to ride their luck at times, but the manager will focus on frustrating Atletico first and foremost.

That might be possible in the first half, but Atletico’s quality is bound to come to the fore the longer this match goes on.

Indeed, Diego Simeone’s team have the capacity to take the game away from Malaga in the second period.

Go for Atletico Madrid to win the second half at 4/6 with Midnite

Alvarez remains with Colchoneros

At the start of the summer, it seemed inevitable that Julian Alvarez would not be an Atletico Madrid player come August.

Yet despite interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal, the Argentina international remains at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Reports in Spain indicate Alvarez is now committed to Atletico, at least for the upcoming campaign. That is good news for Diego Simeone’s side.

Do not be surprised if Alvarez shows his importance to the cause by finding the back of the net on matchday one, even though he is not guaranteed to start against Malaga.

Back Julian Alvarez to score any time at 23/20 with Tote

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga predicted lineups

• Atletico Madrid expected lineup: Oblak; Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Grimaldo; Kang-in; Lookman, Alvarez.
• Malaga expected lineup: Herrero; Puga, Recio, Galilea, Salinas; Larrubia, Rodriguez, Merino, Lorenzo, Munoz; Chupe.

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga latest odds

Find the latest Atletico Madrid vs Malaga betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakersand are subject to change.

• Atletico Madrid: 2/7 with Betfred
• Draw: 4/1 with Midnite
• Malaga: 10/1 with Tote

More La Liga predictions

We have plenty more La Liga predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

Important historical facts about Atletico Madrid vs Malaga for betting

Atletico Madrid have won each of their last five meetings with Malaga and have kept a clean sheet in four of those. Malaga have never beaten Atletico Madrid away from home during Diego Simeone’s tenure.

• Last meeting: 10th February 2018; Malaga 0-1 Atletico Madrid.
• Last 6 matches: Atletico Madrid wins – 5; Malaga wins – 1; Draws – 0.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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