5 of the worst strikers in La Liga this season

#2 Borja Baston

Borja Baston flopped at Swansea and is having similar troubles back in Spain

Malaga have been woeful so far this season. The Andalusian side are currently second from bottom in the Primera Division standings, with just 11 points from 18 matches. While their defensive record is far from great, it is scoring goals that has been their primary problem.

That was perhaps foreseeable. Last season’s top scorer Sandro Ramirez left for Everton last summer, leaving a 14-goal gap in the squad. But the club seemed confident that Borja Baston, scorer of 18 goals for Eibar in the 2015-16 season, would be able to put a disappointing year at Swansea behind him by returning to form back on loan in La Liga.

That has not been the case. Baston has scored just twice in 793 minutes of league action. After starting the season as the club’s primary striker, he had dropped down to third or fourth choice by early November. Coach Michel was disappointed with his output and felt he wasn’t working hard enough in or out of possession.

Baston gradually worked his way back into contention towards the end of 2017, but his performances and goalscoring contribution will have to improve massively between now and the end of the campaign if he is to help Malaga pull off an unlikely escape from relegation.