Osasuna vs Sevilla preview - Lolo looking for Sevilla boost

Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by PA

Osasuna defender Lolo is looking to put one over former club Sevilla and help his current side take a massive step towards Primera Division safety.

The game is a vital one for both clubs, with Osasuna just two points above the relegation zone while Sevilla are in seventh spot and battling hard for a Europa League spot.

Lolo, who came up through the youth ranks at Sevilla before swapping the Andalusian club for Osasuna last summer, said: "It's a special game for me, it's the team where I grew as a player and where I have many friends. They will be coming here needing a victory, but they will have to go away with a defeat.

"We have fought a lot this past month to have a chance and we have to win the game. We need a victory to stay up and we have to get it no matter what.

"Right now 44 points won't mathematically guarantee you survival, but you'll be close. But it is also true that we are only two points from relegation."

Osasuna had dropped into the bottom three after losing four successive matches, but they have fought back well and claimed invaluable victories over Valencia and fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza in their past two games.

Lolo added: "We've taken an important step, but we still need to get three or four more points and on Wednesday we have our first final in front of our fans."

Sevilla suffered a 6-2 home mauling at the hands of Real Madrid on Saturday but, with Atletico Madrid and Espanyol also losing, the loss was not as costly as it might have been.

Gregorio Manzano's men are still in seventh place on 52 points, the same as sixth-placed Atletico and four points above eighth-placed Espanyol, who face a tough clash with Valencia.