Valencia vs Malaga preview - Emery wary of Malaga threat

Posted Saturday, January 22, 2011 by PA

Valencia coach Unai Emery has warned his side to beware new-look Malaga as Los Che attempt to keep the pressure on third-placed Villarreal.

Emery's men go into this weekend's clash at the Mestalla in fourth spot in the Primera Division, two points behind Villarreal and a massive 20 points and 12 places above lowly Malaga.

Valencia downed the Andalusian side 3-1 away from home on the opening weekend of the season, but with a different coach at the helm - Manuel Pellegrini having replaced Jesualdo Ferreira in November - and five new signings being brought in during the winter transfer window, Emery is expecting a tougher test from Malaga this time.

"Malaga are a different Malaga, better than the one we faced in the first week of the season," said Emery, whose side are on a four-match winning streak in La Liga.

"It's a Malaga in the style of Pellegrini, a very good Malaga who are building quickly and who are close to getting good results and good performances, and this is the Malaga that we are expecting," he said.

"We are going to have to play well to beat them."

Malaga have improved since the arrival of Pellegrini and are no longer in the relegation zone, although last week's 4-1 defeat at Barcelona left them just a point clear of the bottom three at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Despite that defeat, new arrival Julio Baptista - who made his debut at the Nou Camp - believes his side can take something from their tough trip to the Mestalla.

"It's complicated, especially because Valencia are in a good moment, but we have a chance to win the game," he said.