Levante vs Osasuna preview - Survival fight on show

Posted Sunday, February 27, 2011 by PA

Levante and Osasuna meet in La Liga with a common goal in mind - top flight survival - but different ways of achieving it.

Osasuna, traditionally strong at the Reyno de Navarra, seek a first away win of the season to continue their resurgence under new coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, while Levante believe the key to their Primera Division survival is winning at home.

"Survival comes at home," said Levante coach Luis Garcia.

"The last two home matches (against Almeria and Getafe) have been victories, with clean sheets and a communion between the fans and the team.

"That's where salvation lies - if we want to stay up we have to take as many points as possible from our home games."

For Osasuna, though, the opposite seems to apply.

"We need to change our state of mind away from home," striker Javier Camunas said.

"We are really strong at home, but the same thing can't be said for our away form and we are trying to change that dynamic."

Osasuna moved out of the relegation zone with an impressive 4-0 win at home to Espanyol last weekend, in what was the first game under new coach Mendilibar.

Levante, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at Real Madrid, but the Valencia-based outfit is still a point clear of the drop zone.

Levante midfielder Miguel Pallardo looks set to recover from injury in time for tomorrow's game, but Gorka Larrea is doubtful

For Osasuna, Ruper remains sidelined, but Sergio Fernandez could return.

Ferran Corominas is also back after missing the game against his parent club Espanyol due to the terms of the loan agreement between the two sides.