Zenit St Petersburg vs Malaga preview - Danny eyes Malaga scalp

Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2012 by PA

Portuguese midfielder Danny has targeted a victory for Zenit St Petersburg against Malaga in a vital Champions League Group C fixture.

Zenit lie fourth in the table and know even a win against Malaga in their penultimate group fixture might not move them up the standings.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has called on his players to concentrate on the Malaga game after the Russian Premier League match away to Dynamo Moscow had to be abandoned when a flare hit home goalkeeper Anton Shunin.

Dynamo were leading the game 1-0 when a flare thrown from the Zenit fans struck Shunin and the game was abandoned.

Spalletti's call has been echoed by Danny, who told the Zenit website: "We have to think about Malaga, and concentrate only on them. I think we`re completely ready for the match, and we'll go out there to get a result. That's the most important thing for us.

"They're a strong team, and their play, naturally, won`t allow anyone to take it easy, since both sides are going to go out only to win."

Danny does not believe it does his side any good to worry about the result from the other game in their group which sees Anderlecht host AC Milan in Belgium.

"We talk about stuff like that in the locker room of course, but the important thing for us is to win. Clearly, if we win both matches, and Milan beat Anderlecht, we have a chance to advance from our group.

"We`re a good team, and we have strong players, and we`re going to do everything to win.

"Obviously, (it) is a deciding match for Zenit. Malaga is strong, but we`ll have our home fans behind us, and we`ll be concentrated only on winning. Again, we`re doing everything to win."

Malaga will be without first-choice goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who was left behind in Spain after he suffered a bout of gastroenteritis just before the five-hour flight was due to leave for Russia.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini will have to turn to Pol Viejo knowing that a draw will ensure his side are through to the knockout phase of the competition.

Defenders Monreal and Sergio Sanchez are recovering from injury and striker Julio Baptista is undertaking intense training to regain his fitness.

Midfielder Joaquin and forward Javier Saviola were not included in the original 19-man squad - which was reduced to 18 by Kameni's withdrawal - selected to travel by Pellegrini.