Real Madrid vs Malaga preview - Dudek focuses on home comforts

Posted Thursday, March 03, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek believes his side's fantastic home form can negate any inside knowledge Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has of the capital club when the two sides meet at the Bernabeu on Thursday.

Pellegrini should know all about Madrid, having led them to a second-placed finish in La Liga last season with a club-record 96-point haul before being replaced in the summer by Jose Mourinho.

Dudek concedes Pellegrini's experience at Madrid is likely to aid Malaga, but the veteran custodian is banking on his side's home record over the last year to overcome that.

Madrid have won their last 22 competitive matches in front of their own fans, while coach Mourinho has a stunning personal record of not having lost a home league game at any of his clubs in over nine years.

Dudek said on bwin.com: "Every opponent who comes to the Bernabeu wants to cause a surprise and give it everything to win. I think Malaga, with Pellegrini, will know exactly how we work, but at home we are very strong and we are favourites to win."

Madrid know they cannot afford any slip-up against the lowly Andalusian side if they want to keep any sort of pressure on Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division standings.

Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and, if Barca beat Valencia this evening, then Mourinho's men will be 10 points adrift going into the clash.

Malaga are also in desperate need of the points, however, as they battle to avoid the drop.

They climbed off the bottom of the table with their 3-1 win over regional rivals Almeria on Monday night, but despite that triumph they are still in 19th spot and two points away from safety.

Pellegrini said: "It was important to overcome Almeria, I hope that this continues with a series of consecutive wins. We have now gone four games without losing and the results calm the nerves."

Looking ahead to the trip to the Bernabeu and Madrid's remarkable home record, Malaga defender Martin Demichelis added: "There is always a chance of winning in football, they (Madrid) have won all their home games and are a great opponent, but we're going there with faith and confidence of getting something positive.

"In the world of football there are no unbeatable teams."

Demichelis also warned his team-mates not to focus all their efforts on just trying to stop Madrid's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said: "They have great footballers, anyone is able to tip the balance. Obviously Cristiano is right now their biggest weapon but you can't only think about Cristiano and forget the rest."