Osasuna vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Depor must treat Osasuna like Real - Lopo

Posted Wednesday, March 02, 2011 by PA

Deportivo La Coruna defender Alberto Lopo has urged his side to treat Wednesday's clash with relegation rivals Osasuna in the same way as they did Saturday's meeting with title-chasing Real Madrid.

Depor put a serious dent in Madrid's hopes of pipping Barcelona to the championship after holding Jose Mourinho's men to a goalless draw at the Riazor.

Now Lopo is hoping for another good result when Depor travel to Osasuna with both sides fighting to stay out of the bottom three. Depor are 14th on 27 points, two points and two places above Osasuna, who are in turn one point above the drop zone.

Lopo said: "We have to face them as if they were Madrid. We know that they are down there, in a situation like ours, and that it's going to be a difficult game in which everyone has to show their character and go out and give 100%."

Osasuna enjoyed a flying start to life under new coach Jose Luis Mendilibar with a 4-0 victory over Espanyol in his first game after replacing Jose Antonio Camacho, but Sunday's second outing ended in disappointment with the Pamplona side losing 2-1 at fellow strugglers Levante.

Osasuna took the lead just before half-time thanks to a Walter Pandiani goal, but Levante hit back to take the spoils and leave Osasuna still looking for their first away win of the season.

At home Osasuna are much stronger, losing just one of their 12 league matches this season whilst conceding just six goals, although they are without two of their leading scorers for tomorrow's game with Pandiani and Carlos Aranda both injured.