Malaga vs Almeria preview - Schuster sounds warning

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2013 by PA

Malaga coach Bernd Schuster has warned that Almeria will cause his team plenty of problems when they visit La Rosaleda, but insisted his players would take the game to their opponents.

Francisco Javier Rodriguez's side have still not won a game back in the top flight, but are the joint fourth top-scorers in the league with 10 goals in five matches.

Schuster highlighted the visitors' attacking qualities in his pre-match press conference.

He said: "Almeria have scored two goals in every game. Although they have conceded many goals, they always come close to scoring.

"They are certain of their game plan and always go on the attack. They pose a different type of danger to most teams and so we'll have to give everything on the pitch.

"We need to be aware of Almeria, we have to respect them and be ready, but this game is at our place and we need to take control."

The German coach confirmed centre-back Marcos Angeleri would play, despite missing training the day before the match, and said he would make one or two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad in order to "freshen up" his side.

Almeria threw away a two-goal lead in their last game to draw 2-2 at home to Levante, with the visitors let back into the game after Christian Fernandez was sent off after clumsily giving away a penalty while defending a corner.

It was the fourth game this season in which Rodriguez's side have taken the lead but failed to win, and the fourth game where they had conceded a penalty.

Rodriguez said the way that game turned out has made his players even more determined to beat Malaga.

"We are keen to keep on showing what we are made of so we can finally get a win," he told reporters.

And he cursed the luck they have had with refereeing decisions.

He said: "We cannot control these situations, because it's not a defensive or attacking flaw, or problems at set pieces, but we are having a very tough time.

"That's why there's a lot of anger within the team, and we are determined to put in a great performance at Malaga and bring back the three points."

The suspended Fernandez aside, Rodriguez has a full squad to choose from.