Osasuna vs Valencia preview - The Rifle fires up fans

Osasuna striker Walter Pandiani has issued a rallying call to his side's fans ahead of the clash with Valencia as the Pamplona-based outfit look to escape the relegation zone.

Osasuna have lost their last four matches and they dropped into the bottom three last weekend, a point adrift of safety, after going down 2-0 at Barcelona.

"We've been put in a very complicated situation because we didn't expect to be here with five matches to go," said Pandiani.

"Now we need to face up to the situation and every one of us will have to give something extra.

"We've had opportunities to get out of this situation but we haven't been able to and, therefore, this weekend we need to win whatever happens."

Pandiani has included his side's fans in the fight, and with three of their five remaining games at home - albeit against high-flying trio Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal - the Osasuna supporters can play their part.

"We need to give it everything, both us on the pitch and the fans off it. They have to support us more than ever. We all want to get out of this," added the experienced Uruguayan.

"We depend on ourselves and it's in our hands to win these five finals that remain. I think we need to win three of those games.

"We start with Valencia, who are very strong opponents and are having a great season."

Third-placed Valencia may be having a great season but head to Pamplona with pride wounded following last week's 6-3 home mauling at the hands of what was essentially a second-string Real Madrid side.

That was the first time a Valencia team have ever conceded six goals at home in the league, but the good news for Los Che was that fourth-placed Villarreal also lost, keeping the six-point gap between the two sides intact.

Angry Valencia coach Unai Emery, whose side trailed 4-0 at half-time and 6-1 with a third of the match left against Madrid, said: "We let them do what they want for an hour and we can't play like that.

"I'm still furious and I expect better when we play Osasuna, which won't be easy."