Malaga vs Espanyol preview - Joaquin targets morale-boosting win

Posted Sunday, October 30, 2011 by PA

Malaga will attempt to arrest their worrying loss of form this weekend when they welcome improving Espanyol to La Rosaleda.

Much was expected of Malaga this season following their heavy summer spending spree and that looked justified as Manuel Pellegrini's men picked up 13 points from a possible 15 immediately after an opening-day loss to Sevilla.

However, the Andalusian side have now suffered three successive defeats to Levante, Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, a run in which they have failed to score and conceded nine times - having previously only let in four goals in six matches.

Malaga are still in seventh place despite that, but another setback this weekend could see them drop out of the top 10.

Winger Joaquin Sanchez, who joined from Valencia in the summer, said: "We know that we're in a bad run, and we need to change the dynamic and therefore this next match is extremely important for this.

"We must get a win, we have a great squad and we're confident that we can get back to doing what we were doing at the start of the season."

Malaga's cause has not been helped by early red cards in recent games, with goalkeeper Willy Caballero being dismissed 27 minutes into the Levante defeat and Eliseu being handed his marching orders after 36 minutes of Wednesday's loss to Rayo.

"We've got to manage these situations and on Sunday we've got the chance to get three important points and that would change everything," added Joaquin.

"The match against Espanyol is vital for morale, to help everyone calm down a bit, and so that we can get back up into the top positions."

While Malaga are dropping down the table, Espanyol are heading in the opposite direction and three successive wins has rocketed them up to sixth place, two points above Malaga.

Two of those three victories came on the road - having previously gone nine months without an away win - and the Barcelona-based club will make the trip to the south coast of Spain with confidence high.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino is not getting carried away though, saying: "I've not looked at the table nor even thought of doing it.

"The important thing is to keep doing the same with regards work, focus and play."