Racing Santander vs Malaga preview - Pellegrini urges focus

Posted Sunday, April 24, 2011 by PA

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini believes concentration is the key for his side in the Primera Division clash at Racing Santander.

Malaga have spent most of the season in the bottom three, but recent results have improved under the Chilean coach and the Andalusians are up to 17th place after picking up seven points from their last four matches.

"It was a relief to move out of the relegation zone, it shows our hard work is paying off," Pellegrini said.

And the former Real Madrid coach believes solidity at the back has been the key.

"We have tightened up in defense, we are more solid and harder to break down," he added. "Now we have to make sure we keep that up and stay concentrated, because Racing are a good team who are very organised and they have improved a lot recently."

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has been separated from the squad due to a disciplinary problem, while goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo is sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

Better news for Malaga saw striker Julio Baptista return from six weeks on the sidelines to bag a brace in the 3-0 win over Mallorca last weekend, and the Brazil forward looks set to start again tomorrow.

Racing, although improved since the return of Marcelino Garcia Toral as coach, are just four points above the drop zone with six games remaining.

Many of the club's players are still owed wages, but they have decided to put that topic to one side as they unite to fight against relegation.

"We'll leave that to one side for now," captain Pedro Munitis said. "Our focus must be on staying up."

Oscar Serrano is sidelined for the rest of the season and Kennedy Bakircioglu is set to miss out again as well.