Deportivo La Coruna vs Real Betis preview - Oltra looking for improvement

Deportivo La Coruna manager Jose Luis Oltra believes moving out of the relegation zone last weekend was a psychological boost for his side, but he is still looking for more from his players ahead of the visit of Real Betis.

The Galicians dropped back into the bottom three courtesy of Osasuna's win over Rayo Vallecano on Friday night but a win over Betis could move the Segunda Division champions as high as 15th by the end of the weekend.

Oltra told AS: "Did moving out of the relegation (zone) help psychologically? Yes, emotionally it has helped, but we have to take a further step forward. Right now we have fewer points than we do games played. The emotions are better than the results have been, but this is about points and classifications. We have to improve and grow.

"The assessments are made at the end of the season. If I had to assess the team now I would say we have done enough as we are. I like what the players are doing right now, but the footnote would be that they are progressing but need improvement."

Daniel Aranzubia will return in goal for the hosts after serving his one-match suspension against Athletic Bilbao last weekend but Carlos Marchena and Ze Castro are still sidelined by injury so Aythami and Roderick will continue in central defence.

Betis boss Pepe Mel does not believe that tiredness can be an excuse for Depor despite them playing the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie against Mallorca 24 hours later than when Betis advanced to the last 16 with a win over Valladolid.

He told Marca: "It will be a complicated game because they are in a dangerous zone and in the Copa del Rey they made it clear they are betting on the game in the league.

"It is clear that there could have been tiredness if they had played all their team, but (Juan Carlos) Valeron, Aranzubia, Riki all didn't play. They are not going to be tired."

Los Verdiblancos' list of defensive injuries got even worse this week as Alex Martinez joined Paulao, Mario and Damien Perquis on the sidelines so Nacho will start at left-back and Joel Campbell may also be handed a rare start as Juan Carlos has been ruled out for a couple of weeks.