Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino remains confident of European qualification.

Espanyol have picked up just eight points from the last 12 games, having won just two and lost eight of those matches.

"If we win, we could be fifth," Pochettino said.

"If we deserve it, we will be up there at the end of the season and if not, we will be in a comfortable position."

Indeed, Espanyol are more used to fighting against relegation at this point of the season than challenging for a place in Europe.

"We are still in a good position, but we are going to Gijon with the aim of winning because if not, the European objective will be more difficult," he said.