Malaga vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Perez fires warning

Posted Sunday, April 10, 2011 by PA

Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Ruben Perez has warned relegation rivals Malaga his side head into their clash with confidence renewed following last weekend`s comeback win over Real Mallorca.

Depor had fallen to within two points of the drop zone following successive defeats to Espanyol and Levante but Miguel Angel Lotina's side increased that gap to five points after fighting back from a half-time deficit to defeat Mallorca 2-1.

That victory not only gave Depor`s hopes of retaining their top-flight status a shot in the arm but, according to Perez, has been a big boost to morale as well.

He said in La Voz de Galicia: "The team are happy again. Last Sunday`s victory has given us a new lease of life. The team looks happy, but with cool heads for our next game.

"We knew that the game against Levante was quite important, but we lost and it affected us quite a lot. But last weekend`s victory has changed the mentality to a positive one."

Depor cannot relax going into their clash with 19th-placed Malaga however, especially as they have one of the worst away records in the division, winning just twice in 15 games on their travels this season.

Despite that record, Depor striker Riki insists his side should not just be happy to return from the south coast with only a point.

"I'm won't settle for the draw, I want the victory. We have to go out to get three points because that would be a vital step towards safety," he said.

Malaga had won back-to-back matches against Real Sociedad and Espanyol recently to aid their own relegation fight, but they slumped to a 3-1 loss to Levante last weekend to slip back to 19th place, a point from Real Zaragoza and safety.

Malaga's Primera Division future looks like it will depend on their home form as five of their last eight matches are in front of their own fans.

And although the Andalusians have not done so well on their own turf this season, they have improved recently and taken seven points from their last four matches at La Rosaleda.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini said: "It's important to know how to get the points at home. Playing at home has not been our strength this season, but it's better to play here with the support of our people than to play away.

"Against Deportivo we have to make as few mistakes as possible against a difficult rival."