Racing de Santander vs Granada CF - Pina calls for calm

Granada president Quique Pina believes the pressure is all on hosts Racing Santander ahead of the relegation battle at El Sardinero.

Coach Abel Resino and his men travel to Cantabria with a six-point advantage over their opponents as the two teams occupy the positions either side of the survival line in the Primera Division with nine games remaining.

And Pina told the club website: "We need to be calm.

"It is very important that we can win but it is not a definitive match for us and it is for Racing Santander. If they do not win, they are in a very bad situation.

"We have spent two years playing big games constantly. The city knows the stakes are high because it has cost us a lot to get to the first division and we must fight to keep what we have.

"While everyone talks of four wins, I think three may be sufficient. There are direct confrontations that will be critical."

In addition to Racing, Granada have still to face rock-bottom Zaragoza, Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano.

Fran Rico has been sidelined for the game by a knee injury suffered in training on Thursday, while Hassan Yebda and Pape Diakhate will not play again this season.

Midfielder Carlos Martins serves the second of a two-game ban, with Borja Gomez and Allan Nyom also suspended.

Pina, though, remains hopeful of tying on-loan midfielder Martins to a permanent deal, and said: "We are negotiating with Benfica a transfer for several years and the player wants to stay."

Martins, who has also been linked with Real Betis, said earlier in the week: "If I have to leave Benfica, it will be to stay in Granada. I love what this city has given me and my son."

Racing have doubts over their two frontline goalkeepers after Tono missed training on Thursday with a wrist injury, and they will be hoping Mario Fernandez can recover from a similar complaint.

Forward Lautaro Acosta and defender Jose Picon are definitely ruled out while another defender, Christian Fernandez, is suspended.

Midfielder Edu Bedia told the club website: "It is essential to win in our stadium and get three points this weekend because we would approach Granada in the table and also overcome the goal difference.

"We have to go out with intensity from the start."

Racing's goal difference of minus 21 is inferior by two to that of their opponents.