Malaga vs Mallorca preview - Beast back for Malaga

Posted Saturday, April 16, 2011 by PA

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini welcomes back Julio Baptista, Apono and Martin Demichelis for the Primera Division clash at home to Real Mallorca.

Striker Baptista is ready to return following six weeks on the sidelines, while midfielder Apono and defender Demichelis are also available again after injury and could start.

Malaga's home form has been poor this season and the Andalusians failed to beat Deportivo La Coruna in their last match at La Rosaleda.

This weekend, however, the club celebrates 70 years at the stadium and midfielder Recio hopes his side can mark the occasion with a win.

"The game is a final for us and we have to win the three points however we can," he said.

"That would see us take an important step towards survival."

And Malaga do need the points.

With seven rounds of the championship remaining, they lie second from bottom, three points behind 17th-placed Zaragoza.

"We're capable of getting ourselves out of there," goalkeeper Willy Caballero said.

With January signing Sergio Asenjo sidelined for the rest of the campaign, Caballero will start again tomorrow.

Mallorca are nine points better off than Malaga, in ninth place, and midfielder Jonathan de Guzman believes another win will be enough to see the islanders secure survival.

"Our only objective is to get to 42 points," he said.

"If then we can look for something more, all the better."

Japanese midfielder Akihiro Ienaga is short of full fitness and may start on the bench.