Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Jemez raises expectation

Posted Sunday, April 13, 2014 by PA

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez has called for his team to raise their target from simply avoiding relegation and set their sights on a top-10 finish.

The Vallecas club have spent the majority of the season in the Primera Division drop zone, but now sit on 36 points after taking 16 points from their last seven games.

They travel to 10th-placed Espanyol on Sunday and Jemez's aim is for his team to swipe that position from the Catalans come the end of the campaign.

"Being where we are allows us a bit of tranquillity because we don't have that urgency to win," Jemez said. "The team has turned things around, but I don't want anyone to think it doesn't matter if we lose (on Sunday), because it will matter.

"We have two objectives; the first is to get the points we need to stay up, and then a bigger objective is to get among the top 10. I said before that I thought the team was growing and we have to keep looking forward.

"For me, being 12th is not the same as 14th or 16th or 10th or ninth. There's a big difference. We are playing for prestige and I'm not going to allow anyone to settle for anything less."

Rayo have four points fewer than Espanyol, who have been the subject of fierce criticism from local media following their 4-1 defeat at Sevilla last week.

Midfielder Victor Sanchez called for a sense of perspective, telling a press conference: "There are 10 teams below us that would love to be in our secure position.

"There's no use blaming anyone in this group. We will keep giving the best of ourselves until the end of the season."

Defender Diego Colotto, meanwhile, called on the team to bounce back from the defeats to Sevilla and Barcelona by beating Rayo to clinch their place in the top flight once and for all.

The defender told reporters: "It's a vital week for us because we have suffered two defeats. We hope we can start winning again and achieve our objective. We are treating this game with the utmost seriousness."

Rayo will be without forward Jonathan Viera, ruled out until May with a hamstring injury, plus Alejandro Galvez, suspended for one game, and Razvan Rat, who begins a four-match ban for headbutting Charles in the 3-0 win over Celta last week.

Espanyol's only injury concern is defender Hector Moreno, who is doubtful due to a back problem.