Almeria vs Malaga preview - Fans should be realistic - Darder

Posted Saturday, May 09, 2015 by PA

Malaga midfielder Sergi Darder has called on fans to be patient despite the team's slump in form, reminding them: "We are not Real Madrid or Barcelona."

The Andalusian side have taken just three points from their last eight Primera Division games and last week surrendered seventh place to Athletic Bilbao for the first time this season, putting their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League at risk. They will be hoping to bring their poor run to an end when they travel to Almeria on Sunday.

Their recent results have predictably prompted plenty of criticism from supporters, but Darder believes they should have more realistic expectations for the team.

"Malaga fans want the team to be higher in the table, but I don't think the team has gone anywhere," he told a press conference.

"I understand that the fans want more, but we are not Real Madrid or Barcelona and we can't expect to win every game. We have had a string of bad performances along with a bit of bad luck and we haven't been able to convert the chances we've created.

"We are just lacking a bit of luck but we are training hard and we know that we can still qualify for Europe."

Malaga face an Almeria side battling to avoid relegation, but boosted by having fought back from being two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo last week.

Striker Tomer Hemed has acknowledged they cannot afford a repeat of that first-half performance against Malaga, saying they must take all three points to continue their survival bid.

"It's vital we go into the game with the same attitude we showed in the second half against Celta, because we know we have such little time left and I'm sure we won't be able to come back from being 2-0 down again to win," he told a press conference.

The Israeli forward scored both goals as Almeria beat Malaga 2-1 at La Rosaleda earlier this season, but insisted he was not taking Javi Gracia's side lightly in spite of their recent downturn in results.

"They are a very good team and we have seen that throughout the year," he said. "It doesn't matter whether they are on a bad run or not. We have to focus on ourselves and try to put in our best possible display."

Malaga's only injury concern is forward Juanmi.

Almeria are still without defenders Fran Velez and Michel Macedo, while Mauro dos Santos is suspended after getting sent off against Celta.