Malaga vs Osasuna preview - Damia warns of backlash

Osasuna midfielder Damia has warned Malaga to expect a backlash after the Pamplona club were condemned to a sixth defeat of the Primera Division season.

Javi Gracia's men looked on course to take a point from a goalless draw with Levante at El Sadar on Sunday but Jordi Xumetra forced home a winner for the visitors two minutes from time.

Midfielder Alvaro Cejudo then saw red late on and will miss Friday night's trip to La Rosaleda, where team-mate Damia promises Osasuna will bounce back.

He told his club's official website: "The defeat to Levante was hard to take but the squad feels quite good in terms of how we dominated the game.

"The situation is not good but I think the team is improving quickly. I think we're starting to recover and Malaga are going to see that.

"The team is feeling good and is alive. We just need to minimise individual errors so we can reach a higher level as a collective."

Cejudo is joined on the sidelines by club trainer Juan Solla, who earned himself a six-match ban for insulting the match officials at the end of the Levante match.

Osasuna are in 19th place with just three points while Malaga have reached 10th on the back of a five-game unbeaten run.

Coach Bernd Schuster oversaw a 2-2 draw at Real Valladolid last weekend and midfielder Francisco Portillo believes the Boquerones can win a third consecutive home game if they cut out careless errors from set pieces.

"It'll be a difficult match, and Osasuna could well come away with a win if we're not at 100 per cent," he told malagacf.com.

"Despite Osasuna always putting on a strong performance, we're confident we can achieve a home win on Friday night.

"We made mistakes in Valladolid, and can't afford any more errors from set pieces.

"The team is in good shape. If we're not at our best, then any rival can beat us. We're all professional footballers so we need to get used to the match timetable every season."

Ivorian midfielder Bobley Anderson has stepped up his recovery from injury but is unlikely to feature, while defender Marcos Angeleri is back in the gym and could make the squad.