Almeria vs Osasuna preview - Almeria on the up

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Almeria will aim to cap a memorable week by climbing off the foot of the Primera Division table when they play host to Osasuna at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Jose Luis Oltra's side ended a three-match losing streak in La Liga with an impressive 1-1 draw against high-flying Real Madrid last Sunday, and they followed that up by beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 in midweek to seal their first-ever spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

The Andalusian side will face Barcelona - who they lost 8-0 at home to earlier this season - in the first leg of their cup clash at the Nou Camp next Wednesday, but before then they face an important league clash against fellow strugglers Osasuna.

The Pamplona outfit have earned just two points from a possible 30 on their travels this season and that that poor record means they make the long trip south to Almeria stuck in the bottom six of the standings and just two points above the relegation zone.

Experienced defender Josetxo, who could be in line for his first appearance since October against Almeria, said: "It's clear that we're not in the situation we would like to be, but neither are we in a situation as alarming as it seems.

"We know that there are things that we aren't doing well and away from home we are finding it hard to get points. We have to find a solution and this Sunday it's a very important game and it will be very good for everyone if we can break this negative run away from home.

"We need to go out onto the pitch without fear and not wait to see what our opponents do. With our weapons and strengths we have to go out looking to win the game.

"It's not a `final' but it is an important game. If we beat Almeria we would put further distance between us and with the head-to-head record in our favour (first meeting finished 0-0). There's no need to fear playing away from Pamplona."