Malaga vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Darder wary of Deportivo threat

Posted Saturday, April 25, 2015 by PA

Malaga midfielder Sergi Darder has warned that Deportivo La Coruna will be "dangerous" opponents when they visit La Rosaleda this Sunday.

The Galicians occupy the final spot in the relegation zone and have gone 10 league matches without a win, but Darder believes their precarious situation will ensure Malaga do not get an easy ride.

"Playing a team fighting relegation is more dangerous than trying to finish near the top of the table," he said.

"So much is at stake for Depor and every game left for them is like a final, so you don't know if you'd rather play a team at the top or the bottom of the league, because every team has a chance of doing something.

"Depor are fighting to avoid relegation, which they suffered not long ago, and they won't want it to happen again, so they're going to leave everything they have on the pitch."

But as well as warning that Depor will give everything, the Malaga midfielder believes his side can use their opponents' desperate need to win to their advantage.

"We have to try and play on that, that pressure that they have of needing to win."

Malaga's only absentee for the match is Ignacio Camacho, while Depor will be without defender Sidnei and striker Toche as both players are suspended.

Although Javi Gracia's side are in pole position to finish seventh in the table and qualify for a play-off position for next season's Europa League, they are also in the midst of a poor run, and they will be looking for their first win in six matches when they host Deportivo,

And Darder avoided talking about his side's European ambitions, instead focusing on their next game.

He said: "I would love it if we qualified for Europe, but for that to occur first of all we have to beat Deportivo, that's what we really need to focus on."