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La Liga

Onesimo Sanchez is confident Real Valladolid are moving in the right direction as they seek to end their miserable run of form.

Valladolid have picked up just four points - all from draws - in 11 games since defeating Sporting Gijon 2-1 at home in their final game before Christmas, while in the last 12 months they have only recorded four league victories in total.

That poor form has left them in 19th place in La Liga and six points adrift of safety heading into tomorrow's match at high-flying Deportivo La Coruna.

However, Onesimo believes he has seen signs of improvement recently, even though his side have lost their last three games against Real Mallorca (2-1), Athletic Bilbao (2-0) and Real Madrid (4-1).

"The numbers are bad, but we shouldn't be asking how we got into this situation, but how to get out. We are close to the answer," said Onesimo, who replaced Jose Luis Mendilibar as coach at the start of February.

"In three of the last five games we've gone ahead. Aside from set-pieces, against Madrid we had as much of the ball as them, and this encourages us.

"We are really keen for the game in La Coruna to come. We now have the chance to earn nine points in seven days and there's little doubt the situation will look a lot better if we can pick up most of them."

Valladolid face 14th-placed Espanyol next Wednesday and then rock-bottom Xerez the following weekend.

Despite Valladolid's dismal end to last season when they took just four points from their last 11 games to finish in 16th place, there was ambitious talk at the Castilian club at the start of this campaign about a possible European bid.

When asked if that was detrimental to the team, Onesimo was keen to add a little perspective to the situation.

"We have the second lowest budget in the division, to think about Europe is like having a (Fiat) Panda and wanting to beat (Fernando) Alonso's Ferrari," Onesimo said in La Voz de Galicia.

Winter signing Henrique Sereno could be in line for his debut after overcoming his injury, while Manucho, Luis Prieto and Borja Fernandez are the other newcomers in Onesimo's squad.

Lazaro, Nivaldo, Hector Font and Javier Baraja are the players to make way, while Alvaro Rubio, Jonathan Sesma, Sisi and Jacobo Sanz are also absent through injury.

While Valladolid battle for survival, Depor are enjoying the battle for Europe.

Miguel Angel Portugal's side are currently sixth in the table on 42 points, just two adrift of fourth-placed Sevilla and the Champions League places.

The Galician side, who drew 1-1 at Sevilla last weekend, have Mista available again but Sergio Gonzalez, Riki, Filipe Luis, Juca, Antonio Tomas and Brayan Angulo are out, while Andres Guardado is a doubt.

The Mexico international was unable to finish training today and although he has been included in Portugal's squad for the match, he will face a fitness tomorrow.