Malaga vs Real Madrid preview - Bale focused on Malaga

Posted Friday, March 14, 2014 by PA

Gareth Bale is not letting the prospect of next weekend's El Clasico cloud his mind ahead of Saturday's trip to relegation-threatened Malaga.

Real Madrid can take an important step towards regaining the Primera Division crown when they meet Barcelona at the Bernabeu on Sunday week.

Madrid could conceivably all but end Barca's title defence in that match and leave them in a straight shoot-out with city rivals Atletico.

It is a prospect that Bale is not fussed about for now.

Instead the forward is concerned only with trying to claim victory at Malaga, which would take Madrid seven points clear of Barca for 24 hours at least.

"At the moment the following game is against Malaga in the league and we're focused on playing well and getting the three points," Bale said at an Adidas event at the club's Bernabeu club store.

"Afterwards we'll think about the Clasico against Barcelona.

"Winning the title is always difficult, but they are nice games and we're looking forward to playing them."

Madrid will also look to confirm their progress in the Champions League next week, they lead Schalke 6-1 going into a home second leg, while the Copa del Rey final against Barca awaits next month.

Bale is enjoying the chance to fight on three fronts, and attempt to win a first major trophy of his career.

"We're alive in three competitions and we have the chance to win the three titles, but we need to take it game by game to try and achieve that," he said.

"In the league we're in a very good position. We're first, we have an advantage, but there are 11 games left and we have to be focused and continue winning so we don't have to worry about the results of the other team.

"In the Champions League it's clear that there are some very strong teams left, there are no favourites.

"The objective is to win the European Cup, but we have to take it match by match. We hope to get the much-desired '10th' (European Cup title)."

Malaga full-back Vitorino Antunes believes his side can cause an upset as they look to pull away from the drop zone.

Bernd Schuster's side are three points clear of relegation and are buoyed after claiming just their second win in 11 games on Monday, 2-0 at Osasuna, when they were down to 10 men.

"We're not thinking about any other results, just concentrating on winning our matches," Antunes said.

"If we win, then we'll definitely stay up. We always try our best in every game."

Antunes will come up against Portugal team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Pablo Coentrao at La Rosaleda and warned he will be doing them no favours.

"I'll most certainly give my all in this match," he said.

"We're friends before and after the game, but there's no such things as friends on the pitch."

Malaga will be without Jesus Gamez for Madrid's visit after he was handed a three-game ban for his sending off at Osasuna while Sergi Darder is suspended after an accumulation of yellow cards.