Malaga vs Valladolid preview - Pellegrini focused on Valladolid test

Posted Saturday, October 20, 2012 by PA

Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini insists his side will not be distracted by their upcoming Champions League tie against AC Milan when they host Valladolid.

The Andalusians can all but seal their passage to the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition with victory over the Italians on Wednesday, but Pellegrini wants the focus for the moment to remain firmly on Valladolid.

He told the club website: "We are always thinking of Valladolid, which is the most important game for us.

"There is nothing that can distract us. We have already had various (Champions League) commitments inserted into our league programme with Anderlecht, Zenit (St Petersburg) and Panathinaikos and we have always thought about the league, the squad know how to do so.

"We are on the right path in the Champions League and we only have to qualify. We could lose points and still qualify, but the points in the league you can't recover. The squad is conscious of this."

The Chilean has to do without Spain international Nacho Monreal, who has been ruled out with a back injury, while Jeremy Toulalan is also not expected to be risked as he makes his way back to full fitness from a hamstring tear.

Valladolid have moved back into the top half of the table with four points from their last two games and manager Miroslav Djukic is determined his side take the game to Malaga.

"If you leave them to dominate you, they will win for sure," he told Marca.

"Therefore, we have to try and play our own game, with possession, so that they suffer. They are a Champions League team and a fashionable team right now that can make things very difficult for us with their brilliant combination play."

Alvaro Rubio is expected to miss out through injury for the visitors so either Javier Baraja or Juan Neira will be drafted in to bolster the midfield.