After a week of boardroom upheaval bottom club Espanyol travel to the Estadio Jose Zorrilla – where the last visitors were mauled 6-1.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino is staying for now, but as many as 10 of the 17 board members that voted to retain his services on Monday could now leave, with elections taking place next month.
On the field the Parakeets have collected just one point and are in danger of being cut off from the rest of the League already.
“Now is not a time for names and egos, and certainly the Coach has the full support of the team,” remarked midfielder Victor Sanchez.
“The match against Valladolid is important, but no more so than that of last week.”
For their part Valladolid are happy to be playing at home again, having recorded such an emphatic win over Rayo Vallecano there last Sunday, ending a run of three straight losses.
“We were not so bad before, and we are not a phenomenon now,” said boss Miroslav Djukic. “We will try to turn the Zorrilla into a fortress.
“We need to keep growing and improving, because nobody can win at 50 per cent, and Espanyol are a good team on the counter attack.”
Kick off: Saturday October 6th, 7.00 (BST)
