How Malaga have changed, Barcelona's last executioners
It's 11 months on since the 2-0 defeat at La Rosaleda last season
Eleven months on from Barcelona's last defeat in La Liga, April 8, 2017, at Malaga (2-0), the Catalans' opponents have changed a lot.
Since that game no team has been able to beat Barca, who are 34 unbeaten in La Liga - 7 games last season, 27 this.
Malaga are bottom with just 13 points from 27 games. They started the season with Michel as coach, who beat Barca, but he was sacked and replaced by Jose Gonzalez.
The first big change that will help Barca is Carlos Kameni leaving. The stopper, now at Fenerbahce in Turkey, was usually sublime against Barca. Not just at Barca but also when he played for Espanyol. In eight games he kept clean sheets against Barca.
Malaga's defence has not changed so much, with now captain Rosales and Ricca still there and starting. Luis Hernandez remains but he plays with Ignasi Miquel, with Llorente now at Real Sociedad.
In midfield Malaga lost one of their pillars, Ignacio Camacho, who went to Wolfsburg, and Recio is injured. So Iturra and Lacen will play as a double pivot.
In attack Malaga have lost both goalscorers against Barca (Sandro, Jony) and they will use Chory Castro, Rolan and Alberto Bueno. Meanwhile One of Ideye and En-Nesyri will also make the side.
Malaga have lost six games running and have not got any points since they drew 0-0 with Girona on January 27.
