Osasuna vs Valladolid preview - Torres aware of importance of a win

Osasuna forward Roberto Torres believes victory over fellow strugglers Real Valladolid on Friday night could go a long way to securing their Primera Division status for another season.

The Pamplona-based side are experts at surviving relegation dogfights and they boosted their hopes of earning a 14th successive campaign in the top flight with a 2-1 win at Almeria last Friday.

That victory lifted Osasuna two points clear of the drop zone and they could put further daylight between themselves and the teams below them with another win over Valladolid.

Torres said: "We're happy because in Almeria we took a very important step towards safety and now comes another game where we can take an even more important step. With another (win) the season could be saved."

Osasuna have taken points off the Primera Division's top three at home this season, but they are without a victory in front of their own fans since their 3-0 February mauling of current leaders Atletico Madrid.

That is something Torres is hoping to rectify, saying: "We've gone a long time without winning at home and we're determined to get a win for the fans. We have to focus on ourselves, because whenever we've focused on the other teams it's gone badly for us."

Valladolid are one place and two points worse off than Osasuna, but like their opponents they have picked four points from their last two games, beating Almeria before drawing with Valencia.

Coach Juan Ignacio Martinez is well aware how important Friday's game could be, saying: "The match is more important for us than for them because we have more need and less points.

"It's more than just three points, more than just another football match."

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