Malaga vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Luis focused on Malaga test

Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luis has insisted his team are fully focused on Saturday's game at Malaga and is adamant they will not be reserving any players or energy for the top-of-the-table clash with Barcelona the following week.

Los Rojiblancos are level on points at the top of the Primera Division with Gerardo Martinez's side, who have a superior goal difference.

But the Brazilian, loyal to coach Diego Simeone's philosophy of treating the next match as the most important one, told a press conference that everyone was concentrating on beating Malaga at La Rosaleda.

"Knowing our coach and our players, no-one is thinking about Barcelona," Luis said.

"We know that the game with Malaga is vital, it's a difficult ground for us and three points against Malaga are worth the same amount as against Barcelona.

"We're going to try and make the most of the next game, because that game [against Barca] is still a long way away."

Atletico will have to make do without the presence of captain Gabi and forward Raul Garcia, both suspended, but attacking midfielder Jose Sosa, who rejected a move to Malaga to join Atletico on loan until the end of the season from Metalist Kharkiv, could be named in the squad for the game.

"Malaga have a great team and have improved a lot since the start of the season, so it'll be a very difficult match," added Luis.

"Gabi and Raul are out but we have a deep squad and the team know how to approach the game."

Malaga's only absentee is midfielder Fernando Tissone, who is suspended.

While Atleti are looking for a win to keep the pressure on Barca in the title race, Malaga are searching for what would be their third straight victory, following narrow wins over Getafe and Elche, and which would lift them up to eighth in the league table.

Bernd Schuster has received criticism for his side's conservative approach and disappointing run of results compared to last season, but midfielder Duda believes a win over Atleti would silence the doubters.

He told a press conference: "We have to go looking for the three points, and if we do, we'll be on 23 points and then we won't be able to talk about this crisis which people have said we are in."