Malaga have been drawn against Panathinaikos in the qualifying round for the group stages of the Champions League.
The Costa del Sol outfit is in crisis at the moment after owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani’s decision to put the club up for sale, but boss Manuel Pellegrini believes it is time for everybody to start thinking about football.
“Now is the time to think about the Champions League, which is what the coaching staff and players are doing,” he told the club’s official website.
“I am sure that with the support of the fans the team will try everything possible to qualify and after that we’ll see.
“My intention has always been to carry on at Malaga as I am very happy here and I hope any future problems can be sorted out.”
The first leg against the Greeks will be at La Rosaleda on either August 21 or 22 with the return in Athens the following week.
The full draw is:
Malaga – Panathinaikos
Braga – Udinese
Spartak Moscow – Fenerbahce
Basel – Cluj
Helsinborgs – Celtic
Bate Borisov – Apoel Kiryate
Limassol – Anderlecht
Dinamo Zagreb – Maribor
Borussia Moenchengladbach – Dinamo Kiev
Lille – Copenhagen
