La Liga Preview: Málaga – Atlético Madrid

It would have been hard to think when the last time that these two sides met that they would be on level points at this stage of the season, but that’s the way it has turned out. Málaga have continuously impressed this season, bouncing back from the 4-0 hammering on the opening day at the Vicente Calderón well, whilst Atlético Madrid have flattered to device on too many occasions. This weekend the two sides meet with the visitors knowing they have to win, whilst the hosts know that if they can pick all three points they will go up into the European places…

Málaga Moment

Back in late August and early September many people had already classed Málaga as relegation favourites, and perhaps unsurprisingly so given their start to the season. Picking up just one point from their opening four games they certainly did not look like a side who would stay too far clear of the bottom three, let alone challenge for European places, and yet here they are, on the cusp of sixth place.

Having won four of their last five matches, and drawn the other, they have really started to put the pressure on teams such as Atlético Madrid, and somehow, from the thrashing they took earlier in the season, they find themselves level on points. That stat might well owe as much to the ineptitude of the Champions League outfit at times, as it does to the quality of Málaga, but there is no doubt they have been a revelation this season, and a refreshing one too.

Antonio Tapia has got his side playing attacking football, and even when they have played the top teams, they have not taken their foot off the gas. Take for example their battle at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid, where they just lost out to the defending La Liga champions 4-3, or their win over Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuá, arguably their most impressive victory to date. Whether or not their attacking tactics will play into the hands of Atlético this weekend is not clear, but whatever the case, the away side know they have a tricky task on their hands.

Miserable Year

Whilst Málaga have been impressive this year, Atlético have been anything but, failing to win a match in either the Copa Del Rey or La Liga so far. Their draw against Almería last weekend might not have been the worst result on paper, but considering they squandered numerous chances and were playing against ten men for much of the match, they will feel frustrated.

Indeed, Sergio Agüero could not hide his anger after the match, saying that the team needs to work harder and that the result was not good enough. Whilst that was written off as heat of the moment material by the rest of the squad later, there is no doubt that Atlético do need to improve, and quickly. Even a win this weekend would not see them move back into the top four, and worryingly, bearing in mind their poor form, they must face their direct rivals in less than a month.

If they cannot manage to beat Málaga this weekend and win their next two or three matches then by the time they face Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, fourth spot could already be a distant dream. They will be hoping that they can repeat the performance which saw them destroy the island side on the first day, but there is no doubt this will not be easy.

FORM GUIDE

Málaga

Jan 18 Málaga 4-0 Espanyol (La Liga)

Jan 11 Real Betis 1-2 Málaga (La Liga)

Jan 4 Málaga 1-0 Sporting Gijón (La Liga)

Dec 21 Racing Santander 1-1 Málaga (La Liga)

Dec 14 Málaga 2-0 Numancia (La Liga)

Atlético Madrid

Jan 18 Almería 1-1 Atlético Madrid (La Liga)

Jan 14 Barcelona 2-1 Atlético Madrid (Copa Del Rey)

Jan 11 Atlético Madrid 2-3 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)

Jan 6 Atlético Madrid 1-3 Barcelona (Copa Del Rey)

Jan 3 Valencia 3-1 Atlético Madrid (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Málaga

Málaga will be without in-form striker Adrián after he suffered an injury in the victory over Espanyol last week.

That could well mean a start for Albert Luque up front, or for Salva, who has struggled to find playing time this season but is now fit.

Probable Line-Up (4-2-3-1): Goitia – Gaspar, Rosario, Cuadrado, Calleja – Lolo, Apoño – Eliseu, Baha, Duda - Luque

Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid will be without Éver Banega after he was sent off against Almería last weekend and worryingly, Maxi Rodríguez is still a doubt.

That could mean that Florent Simana-Pongolle starts on the right flank again, whilst Mariano Pernía is a doubt, and could be replaced by Antonio López.

Probable Line-Up (4-4-2) : Leo Franco – López, Ujfalusi, Heitinga, Seitaridis – Simao, Maniche, Assuncao, Sinama-Pongolle – Forlán, Agüero

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Málaga

Eliseu has played nearly every game for Málaga this season and he has been a key figure in his attacking role, usually playing as a second-striker. The Portuguese player has scored five times in the league and has got plenty of assists to his name as well. Against Atlético the coach will be hoping that he can control the ball in the final third and pick out the passes to unlock the defence.

Atlético Madrid

After the draw with Almería last weekend Sergio Agüero made no secret of his frustration and Javier Aguirre will be hoping for a reaction from the Argentine this week. Against an attacking Málaga side he could well get space on the counter-attack and unlike last week he will have to take his chances when they come.

PREDICTION

Yet again it’s must win time for Atlético Madrid and should they fail to win this match they could find themselves out of the European places altogether. The home side are on a good run of form but with both teams looking to attack the class of the visiting forwards could take all three points back to the Spanish capital.

Málaga 2-3 Atlético Madrid

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com