Jose Manuel Jurado is confident Atletico Madrid will be able to compete with rivals Real and Barcelona this season.

Abel Resino's side kick off their Primera Division campaign with a trip to Malaga tomorrow, as they look to build on their fourth-placed finish from last season.

A place in the top two looks a tough ask, though, with Real now boasting Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka within their ranks and Barcelona acquiring Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Atletico sealed their place in the Champions League group stage in midweek with victory over Panathinaikos and were paired with Chelsea, Porto and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the draw on Thursday.

But Jurado's focus is now firmly on the start of the domestic season.

Jurado, who spent last season on loan at Real Mallorca, told Atletico's official website: "We have our first match this season on Sunday and we're going to La Rosaleda and really want to bring home the three points.

"We hope to earn our first victory in Malaga, although our mentality is to win in every stadium.

"The rivalry that exists in La Liga is clear. Both Barca and Madrid have strengthened themselves well, but we also have a great team.

"Atletico Madrid are working to get better and better and take steps forward, and to do that we have to compete with the other Spanish teams that play at that level."

On a personal level, Jurado is hoping to make an impact at the Vicente Calderon this term.

He added: "I'm very happy at Atletico. I only have the desire to work hard each day and contribute to the team as much as I can.

"At the moment, I can make a positive assessment. I've played in the two matches in the Champions League and that gives me confidence."

Malaga finished an impressive eighth last term in their first year back in the top flight, but will be anxious to avoid second season syndrome.

And boss Juan Ramon Muniz, who returned to the club at the end of last campaign after a year in charge of Racing Santander, knows his team face a tough start to the campaign.

Muniz told the Malaga official website: "Atletico are one of the better teams in the league, but we are not going to throw in the towel and we will try to do things as well as possible."

The hosts' most difficult task tomorrow is likely to be containing perhaps the most lethal strike force in Spain in Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.

The pair scored 48 league goals between them last term and their form will be central to Atletico's hopes again this term.

"A plan for 'Kun' (Aguero) and Forlan?" Muniz added. "The best plan is that they don't have the ball."