New element Malaga ready for Germany’s ‘dark horse’
3 April 2013 12:48 AM GMT
Malaga winger Joaquin Sanchez is promising a big performance from his side on Wednesday as the Spanish side host Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League quarter-final in their first ever appearance in the competition.
“We’ll go out aggressive and look for a result at home, but not even an 8-0 win would allow us to relax in Germany,’’ he said on Monday.
“These are the games that footballers want to play in, we’re very happy to enjoy this atmosphere and that the fans can join in, you can sense the club’s dreams everywhere you go here. These are games in which the big teams prove themselves,” the former Spain international told a press conference.
In last month’s 2-0 second-leg win over Porto, Malaga turned around a tie they were losing by a single goal after the away game and once again showed the good home form that allowed them to top their qualifying group ahead of AC Milan.
Indeed, Malaga have never lost at home in thirteen European games in their history.
That includes group wins this season over the Italian giants, plus Zenit St Petersburg and a qualifying round win over Panathinaikos for a home record in the competition that reads four wins and one draw, hitting 10 goals and conceding only 2 in the process.
The form of Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero has been decisive for Champions progress and in Malaga boasting La Liga’s second best defensive record, and the his form will be key if Borussia are to be thwarted in La Rosaleda stadium.
“We have to be up for it and play Borussia on equal terms. That will be difficult because they are a team that attacks well and have a whole lot more. For us it’s a dream but we must be strong in the home game, we all must be on top of our game and find out how where we can hurt them,” said Caballero.
Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund are renowned for their attacking prowess having scored 91 goals in all competitions this season in 40 games, including a 2-2 draw in the Santiago Bernabeu that came after beating Real 2-1 in Germany.
“We’ll go out aggressive and look for a result at home, but not even an 8-0 win would allow us to relax in Germany,’’ he said on Monday.
“These are the games that footballers want to play in, we’re very happy to enjoy this atmosphere and that the fans can join in, you can sense the club’s dreams everywhere you go here. These are games in which the big teams prove themselves,” the former Spain international told a press conference.
In last month’s 2-0 second-leg win over Porto, Malaga turned around a tie they were losing by a single goal after the away game and once again showed the good home form that allowed them to top their qualifying group ahead of AC Milan.
Indeed, Malaga have never lost at home in thirteen European games in their history.
That includes group wins this season over the Italian giants, plus Zenit St Petersburg and a qualifying round win over Panathinaikos for a home record in the competition that reads four wins and one draw, hitting 10 goals and conceding only 2 in the process.
The form of Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero has been decisive for Champions progress and in Malaga boasting La Liga’s second best defensive record, and the his form will be key if Borussia are to be thwarted in La Rosaleda stadium.
“We have to be up for it and play Borussia on equal terms. That will be difficult because they are a team that attacks well and have a whole lot more. For us it’s a dream but we must be strong in the home game, we all must be on top of our game and find out how where we can hurt them,” said Caballero.
Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund are renowned for their attacking prowess having scored 91 goals in all competitions this season in 40 games, including a 2-2 draw in the Santiago Bernabeu that came after beating Real 2-1 in Germany.
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