Malaga - Valencia preview - Nuno aiming for top four finish - 7M sport

Malaga - Valencia preview - Nuno aiming for top four finish



Posted Sunday, February 01, 2015 by PA

Valencia coach Nuno believes his squad is strong enough to finish in the top four in La Liga despite the departure of four players during the winter transfer window.

Speaking ahead of Monday's game at Malaga, Nuno said in a press conference: "We have reinforced the squad in the positions we considered necessary and brought in two players from the youth team.

"There have been several departures but it remains a very good Valencia side.

"We have a lot of confidence in this team and we believe we can continue to fight for our aim."

Among those to have left the Mestalla stadium is Argentinian midfielder Bruno Zuculini, whose loan move from Manchester City was ended early, while Joao Pereira's contract has been terminated.

Valencia have made just one reinforcement, bringing in Argentinian midfielder Enzo Perez from Benfica.

Los Che travel to La Rosaleda looking to make it three straight league wins, with last weekend's 3-1 triumph over Sevilla lifting Valencia to fourth in the standings.

Nuno's side holds the last Champions League qualifying spot, two points clear of Sevilla.

"We are just focusing on ourselves and not on others," Nuno said. "Our aim is always to take three points regardless of who we play against.

"We know we face a big test on Monday in a difficult venue."

Malaga are winless in the Primera Division since December 21 and have collected just two points since.

Last weekend's 1-1 result at Athletic Bilbao dropped Malaga to seventh place, nine points adrift of Valencia.

Javier Gracia's men suffered another blow after losing 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday to bow out of the Copa del Rey.

"We had a historic occasion to reach the semi-finals but it was not to be," Gracia said. "We are disappointed."

Thursday's game was Vitorino Antunes' last in the albiceleste colours after the club announced on Sunday that it had reached an agreement with Dinamo Kiev to sell the Portuguese left back.

Should Antunes' deal be completed, he would become the fifth Malaga player to depart in the winter transfer window.

Malaga have lost just two games at home this season.



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