Thing with Malaga is that I have a feeling they will utterly fail badly next season. Why?
Because of a number of reasons:-
1) I think they are too individualistic and there does not seems any strategic plan from management level to build the club over the next 10 years. To me and from what I can perceive of the situation it looks like a fast quick and cut plan to try and put the club on the map quicker than should normally be the case. So far it looks like the foundation stones is being built on quicksand rather than hard brick.
2) Pressure/expectancy. There is now an expectancy for Malaga to push for a top 4th place. Anything below this will be perceived as a failure. I am not so sure that this should be the aim anyway. When you are relying on someone like Juilo Baptista then he doesn't inspire me with confidence that he can withstand the pressure.
3) Buying players that are past their best is not good strategy. RVN was a marvellous striker but can he cut it in la liga NOW? I am not so sure tbh. There is also a lack of leadership within the management team and playing staff.
If they don't start well I think they could definitely struggle next season. Struggle I don't mean lower la liga but anywhere from 8th - 16th.
I think Real, Barca, Valencia, Villarreal, Atletico, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla will all finish above Malaga next season.