Málaga CF are facing the LaLiga SmartBank matchday 15 fixture on Sunday following defeat on Thursday in Cartagena. On this occasion, the rival visiting La Rosaleda to play Pepe Mel’s men is Real Sporting de Gijón. The Malaguista coach stated: “They are a solid, experienced team. The system with Abelardo is always defined, a 4-4-2. They have good arrivals from the outside and a good inside game with Christian Rivera. Everyone is counting on them to finish in the top six. They’re a good opponent.”
Last week’s midweek fixture in Cartagena means the team returns to competition after just a few days. Pepe Mel believes that despite taking home “zero points in the pot”, the team “has reaffirmed itself in terms of group work, helping, and strength as a team. We were able to react and go level in a game that was an uphill struggle, a game that up until that action in the 20th minute, we were dominating. All those things tomorrow have to be reaffirmed, they cannot stop at that. It’s time to act, not talk,” he added.
To conclude his press conference, the Blue and White manager wanted to point out that “the atmosphere is favourable as we’ve earned it. We understand people. Those same people who, if we play a good match, they will applaud and cheer the players on. The final result depends on us. Tomorrow, we have to fight thinking that the enemy is Sporting, not in the stands. The enemy is not on the inside, they’re on the outside. When the match ends, the fans will say their piece,” he commented.
