Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Málaga included 39 total dead balls, with Madrid taking 24 and Málaga 15. Madrid’s set-piece volume was built from nine corners, nine goal kicks, and six free kicks, while Malaga had six goal kicks, six corners, and three free kicks.
Madrid won first contact on 10 of their 15 deliveries and produced four set-piece shots, worth 0.68 npxG from a team total of 2.60. Malaga also generated four set-piece shots, but from lower value overall, producing 0.23 npxG from their total 0.85.
Madrid’s delivery profile was more varied and more threatening. They delivered five balls into central areas, four wide of the box, and two into the six-yard box. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the main delivery source, with repeated corners and free kicks creating first-contact and second-phase situations.
Madrid’s first set-piece shot came after a 10th-minute Trent corner to Antonio Rüdiger, which led to a second-phase attempt. Another Trent delivery in the 58th minute created a first-phase Jude Bellingham shot, while Vinícius Júnior’s late short corner to Arda Güler produced a first-phase saved shot in stoppage time.
Málaga’s set-piece threat was concentrated after Madrid already led 3-0. They had only two dead balls while the game was level, then 13 while trailing, producing all four of their set-piece shots in that game state. Their delivery locations were narrower: four central deliveries and one wide of the box. Rafa Rodríguez hit the post from a first-phase corner in the 42nd minute. David Larrubia had two second-phase shots from set-piece sequences in the 71st and 82nd minutes, and Haitam Abaida produced a direct free-kick shot in the 84th minute.
By half, the match’s set-piece activity increased after the break. The first half had 17 dead balls, 14 for Real Madrid and three for Malaga, producing two shots. The second half had 22 dead balls, split 10 for Madrid and 12 for Malaga, producing six shots. Madrid’s set-piece edge came through delivery volume, first-contact control, and higher shot quality, while Málaga’s output came mostly from chasing the game and second-phase situations.
