Granada vs Espanyol preview - Ortiz looking for home comforts

Posted Sunday, December 02, 2012 by PA

Granada midfielder Juanma Ortiz has said his side must make home advantage count when they host Espanyol in what is already a potentially significant relegation battle.

Both sides currently sit in the bottom three with Granada just one place and two points better off than the visitors who are rooted to the foot of the table and Ortiz is targeting just a second home win in seven league games to give them some breathing space.

He told Marca: "Espanyol are in a delicate situation and we have to become strong in our own home. We are training to be an intense, pressing, hard-working and competitive team, and hopefully on Sunday we will create chances and go for the game from minute one.

"It's too early to talk about finals but this is an important game for us. It's time to grit our teeth and leave the bottom of the table."

The hosts will still be without the injured Fran Rico, Yacine Brahimi and Jaime Romero, whilst Hassan Yebda also misses out despite returning to training after a serious knee injury.

Espanyol became the first Spanish side to sack their coach this week as Mauricio Pochettino was replaced by Javier Aguirre and the Mexican has promised his new squad a fresh start.

He told a press conference broadcast on the club's website: "We have to pick up the points in the next 25 games. This is a quality team that have not achieved the results so far that they have deserved.

"I would like to turn the page, start from scratch and have us all move forward together.

"Results will strengthen the spirit. We must accumulate points so the game against Granada this weekend is very important.

"Yes I like to play well, but we need to progress and not be afraid of anything. Only with head, heart and determination can this team can save itself."

Los Pericos are still without the suspended duo of Hector Moreno and Sergio Garcia, but Simao may begin to see more game time in the coming weeks after being ostracised by Pochettino and having worked successfully with Aguirre before at Atletico Madrid.