Athletic Bilbao - Malaga preview - No let-up from Malaga

Posted Sunday, January 25, 2015 by PA

Malaga coach Javi Gracia has insisted his side will treat Sunday's league game with Athletic Bilbao "like a final", even though the two teams meet again next Thursday at San Mames in a finely poised Copa del Rey tie.

Neither side could score in last week's stalemate at La Rosaleda in the first leg of the quarter final tie but Gracia pledged to put out a full strength team at San Mames in Sunday's league encounter.

"We are preparing for it as if it were a final and we won't reserve anyone, we want to begin the second half of the season with a victory," Gracia told a press conference.

Although Malaga are yet to win a league match in 2015, they sit comfortably in seventh place in the Primera Division on 31 points, while Athletic languish just three points above the relegation zone.

However, Gracia denied that the league game was more significant for the struggling Basque side.

"It is just as important for Malaga as it is for Athletic," he insisted.

"Naturally it will be difficult for us because we'll be playing in a wonderful stadium that lives and breathes football, but I hope on the pitch we can prove what a good team we are."

Athletic have had an even more miserable start to the new year than Malaga, losing all three of their league games this month, but goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz is confident his side will turn things around.

"We are in a difficult situation and we are the ones that are most annoyed with it, but the only way to deal with it is for each player to give their best," he told a press conference.

"I understand that the fans are angry but we all form part of this great family, and if we stay united we will get out of this situation."

Athletic are still without forward Iker Muniain, who will serve the final game of a suspension for dissent, while Malaga midfielder Recio is also suspended.