Malaga vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Gamez primed for Malaga return

Atletico Madrid defender Jesus Gamez is relishing a special game against his former club Malaga and has warned against looking beyond Saturday's visit to La Rosaleda.

Following Gamez's advice will not be easy for Atletico fans, with the club facing Real Madrid in a repeat of last season's Champions League final clash when the two-legged quarter-final kicks off next Tuesday.

But Atleti coach Diego Simeone first has to focus on cementing third place in La Liga with Valencia just three points behind in fourth, though the defending champions have won their last three league games and are unbeaten in domestic action since mid-February.

But Gamez, who rose through the Malaga ranks to make his debut in 2005 before moving to Atletico in the summer of 2014, is not about to take a win for granted against a side battling for a Europa League berth.

At a press conference, quoted on Atletico's website, Gamez said: "We've seen the season Malaga are having. We have to be careful.

"We have to focus on the one against Malaga - we don't have to look at other matches, just focus on ours. (We) do not look any further because it is diverting attention from the game that comes now.

"They are three vital points for the team, to continue the fight and keep third place and, who knows, to continue climbing in the rankings."

Of his return to play in front of the Malaga faithful, Gamez added: "I have many friends in the club. I felt loved by the fans. Not only was I made as a player, but also as a person. It will be a very special game,"

Malaga have not won in their last three league games but defender Roberto Rosales is banking on their home form, which yielded a goalless draw against Barcelona in September, to see them through.

Indeed, Malaga's last win in the league was against Granada at home, which has helped their cause as they chase sixth-placed Villarreal, who hold the final Europa League spot and are five points ahead.

The Albicelestes continue to be without the injured Ignacio Camacho, but welcome back Sergio Sanchez and Samu Castillejo from suspension after they missed the 1-0 defeat against Eibar in midweek.

Rosales was quoted on Malaga's website as saying: "We hope to have a good performance because we owe it to the fans. We have been quite strong at home this season.

"We know the disappointment of the fans but we try to give everything in a difficult game to get a win on Saturday.

"Atletico are a team of many variants and we have to be very concentrated. We must become strong in the collective to overcome the current champions."