Athletic Bilbao vs Malaga preview - Pellegrini pleased with end-of-season riposte - 7M sport

Athletic Bilbao vs Malaga preview - Pellegrini pleased with end-of-season riposte



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Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini says he would have paid a lot of money a month ago to have 45 points at this stage of the Primera Division season.

Back then, the Andalusians looked unlikely to avoid relegation in what has been a difficult season for the Costa del Sol outfit, but five wins in a row have seen the club secure survival with two rounds of the championship still left to play.

"We're in a good dynamic and we want to keep that going," the Chilean coach said.

"A month ago we would have paid a lot of money to have had 45 points, but now we want to win as many as possible before the end of the season."

Strikers Julio Baptista and Salomon Rondon have been on red-hot form in the five consecutive wins, but only the Brazilian is available to face Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Sunday.

Rondon is out injured and will also miss the home game against Barcelona on the last day of the season.

While Malaga have achieved their objective already, Athletic are still in pursuit of their goal for the season - qualification for the Europa League.

Coach Joaquin Caparros, who is missing injured trio Koikili Lertzundi, Markel Susaeta and Inigo Diaz de Cerio, hopes his side can finish where they currently sit in the table - in fifth place.

"Our aim is to finish fifth," he said.

"Ending the season in fifth and with a place in European competition would be a satisfactory conclusion to the campaign."



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