Adelaide United skipper Eugene Galekovic says it’s huge for the city to have La Liga side Malaga in town but insists the focus is on continuing to build for the Reds’ 2014/15 Hyundai A-League tilt.
The Reds will host Malaga in an enticing pre-season friendly at refurbished Adelaide Oval on Friday night, the first time a La Liga side has ever met an A-League opponent in Australia.
While thrilled to face the likes of ex-Manchester City and Bayern Munich star Roque Santa Cruz and Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto, Galekovic isn’t fazed by what the Spaniards will throw at them.
“We don’t know too much about them yet and (coach Josep Gombau) hasn’t told us too much,” the Adelaide gloveman told www.footballaustralia.com.au on Tuesday.
“We’ll probably do a video session closer to the game in the next day or so.
“But it’s really more about getting us ready for game one (of the A-League season) and worrying about what we have to do and just try and get better at it.
“Pre-season’s been going really well, the new players have fitted in great and it’s all about building. It’s going to be good for us.
“Usually you play against the local teams in pre-season but to play teams like Malaga it’s even more beneficial.”
This is the first time the Reds will be playing at the newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval and Galekovic, who has only been a spectator there at a few AFL matches is pumped to get out on the new surface.
And the 33-year-old, who was part of Australia’s World Cup squad in Brazil, hopes Adelaide fans will turn out in huge numbers.
“We haven’t had a big game down here since Australia played New Zealand here about five or six years ago,” Galekovic said.
“It’s going to be a great spectacle on a nice big stadium so hopefully they come out and support us. I know the boys are looking forward to it and want to put in a good performance as well.”
The Reds’ clash with Malaga at Adelaide Oval kicks off at 7.30pm (local time) on Friday. The Spanish club will also face Perth Glory a few days later as part of their Australian tour.
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