Malaga vs Celta Vigo preview - Gomez targets long-awaited victory

Celta Vigo defender Sergi Gomez says his team are desperate for victory at Malaga so they can bring their recent dismal run of form to an end.

Eduardo Berizzo's side's excellent start to the season has been eroded by a run of five games without a win in all competitions, seeing them slip to eighth place in the Primera Division table.

The Galicians are four points behind Malaga, who returned to winning ways last week by beating Deportivo La Coruna after successive defeats to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

"We have gone four games without victory and we are really keen to start winning again and get back to playing our best football," Gomez told a press conference, carried by Marca.

Celta have not won since beating Barcelona at the Nou Camp at the start of November, a result followed by a goalless draw at home to Granada and successive defeats to Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Real Madrid.

"We have to take a step forward and get the three points, it's up to us to turn this around," added the defender.

Malaga's win at Deportivo put Javi Gracia's side level on points with the European spots, but the coach insists that avoiding relegation remain's his only priority for now.

"Beating Celta will allow us to open a gap with the teams in the top half of the table and above all with the teams near the bottom," he told a press conference, quoted by Marca.

"That's what I'm most focused on - opening a gap between us and the teams in the relegation zone. I hope that we'll be able to talk about other objectives later on."

Gracia is also wary of Celta's qualities in spite of their recent form, and it will not have escaped his attention that the Galician's beat Malaga 5-0 the last time they went to La Rosaleda.

"This is a game against a great team, because even though they haven't been getting great results in the last few games, their last win came away to Barcelona, he added.

"They are a dangerous team that we have not always fared well against historically. These statistics mean we have to be alert. But we are very motivated about continuing with this excellent run."

Malaga are still without Nodin Amrabat even though the Moroccan has returned to training following injury, and Juanmi Jimenez and Sergio Sanchez are not expected to be playing again until the new year.

Celta have no new injury concerns.