Almeria's Hugo Sanchez is keen to replicate their showing last season, starting with Sunday's clash with Real Valladolid.

However, whilst the former Mexico boss is eager to pick up three points, he admits he could do without a repeat of last season's corresponding fixture at the Estadio Juegos Mediterraneos.

Although Almeria eventually beat Valladolid 3-2, they had to do it the hard way after falling 2-0 down inside the opening 22 minutes and also losing two players to red cards before Alvaro Negredo netted the winning goal 11 minutes from time.

"We want to win, but I would like to do it without the suffering of last season against the same opponents," Sanchez said.

"That is a game which we can use as a form of motivation because it was epic where we fought back from 2-0 down with two players less."

That victory was one of 11 recorded by Almeria at home last term - the best record outside the top six - and their home form was the main reason they finished out of trouble in 11th place, picking up just two wins away from home.

"We want to show the same fortitude that we had in our stadium last season and we hope to be able to count on the support of the fans, who are our 12th man," added Sanchez.

"Although it is the first week we are playing for more than three points against Valladolid because they are going to be, in principle, a rival at the same level as us. It will be very important to start with a win. We are ready for the first battle."

The big question mark for Almeria is how they will cope up without the services of their star striker from last season, Negredo.

Including his late winner in that Valladolid thriller, Negredo netted 19 league goals out of side's overall tally of 45.

Negredo is no longer at the club though, as he returned to Real Madrid this summer before then moving onto Sevilla.

Almeria have lost more key players in Mane, Bruno Saltor and Iriney Santos, and the man who was brought in to replace Negredo - the former Valladolid striker Henok Goitom - is set to be out for three weeks through injury.

Losing Goitom on top of the departed players is a concern for Sanchez, but he insists he already knows who to replace the Swedish striker with.

Valladolid had a mixed season last time, and for much of it they looked like possible challengers for a European berth. However, a dreadful end to the campaign almost ended up costing them their Primera Division status.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's side took just four points from a possible 33 in their final 11 games, and only guaranteed their survival after recording a 1-1 draw against Real Betis on the last day, sending the Andalusians down instead.

Mendilibar said: "I hope it will be a good season and we can build a base from which to do something a little better. We have a good-looking team, with good players, but now we need to make them play well as a team."