Malaga midfielder Sergi Darder has warned his teammates that Deportivo La Coruna will be "dangerous'' opponents when they visit La Rosaleda this Sunday, with both sides seeking three points for their own ambitions. As it stands the visitors occupy the final spot of the relegation zone and have gone ten league matches without a win, but Darder believes their precarious situation will ensure Malaga do not cruise to three points; "Playing a team fighting relegation is more dangerous than trying to finish near the top of the table."
"So much is at stake for Depor and every game left for them is like a final, so you don't know if you'd rather play a team at the top or the bottom of the league, because every team has a chance of doing something. Depor are fighting to avoid relegation, which they suffered not long ago, and they won't want it to happen again, so they're going to leave everything they have on the pitch.''
Darder also reiterated the importance of a win, and how much it would boost their chance of securing European football next season, "we have to try and play on that, that pressure that they have of needing to win.''
Malaga will be without Ignacio Camacho, whilst the visitors will be without Depor will be without defender Sidnei and striker Toche as both players are suspended. Although Javi Gracia's side are in pole position to finish seventh in the table and qualify for a play-off position for next season's Europa League, they have won just one of their last five matches, which is form they will be looking to amend with such ambition, and games running out to secure points.
And Darder avoided talking about his side's European ambitions, and taking the games each as they come, as Malaga are incredibly focused on Sunday's task in Deportivo.
He said: "I would love it if we qualified for Europe, but for that to occur first of all we have to beat Deportivo, that's what we really need to focus on.''
Both sides will be in search of three points in their quests for Europa League football and also securing La Liga status for another season. However, the two clubs head into this match in awful form, with wins proving to be very elusive in both respective formbooks, but there is plenty still to play for.
Deportivo are winless in 10 La Liga matches, but currently sit level with 17th place on 28 points, meaning that their survival is very much in the balance. Malaga, meanwhile, will look to overtake out-of-form Villarreal in the race for a European place, especially after suffering just one loss in their last nine home games.