Canales vs Galar

Here we are again! Football on a week night! What an awasome feeling! These nights are over in powerful pitches as Bernabeu or Camp Nou, but tonight two modest teams, Racing and Osasuna are playing for a place in Semifinals in Copa del Rey. The league will be another day, on Sunday, but it's aanother story too. There are different players and different ambitions: Could it be another way to Europe? It's a dream for teams in Santander or Pamplona. Why not?

Osasuna has been in similar situations recently (finalist in 2005, semifinalist in 2003 and 1/4 finalist in 2007) and who knows if the season 2009-10 could be a good year for the Navarrian team history. As I said last week there are great expectations in Osasuna supporters and we may stay calm when we can read in the newspapers some headings like "we are four matches from our next Final", because it reminds me some fairy tales as the one called " El cuento de la lechera".

Reality starts tonight at El Sardinero against a very similar team to Osasuna. Racing have got the same amount of points in la Liga as Osasuna (20). The match score against Osasuna in the League was (1-1)- a very good result in Copa matches. Therefore, if Osasuna players keep concentrated from the very beginning of the confrontation, there will be more chance to get semifinals in Pamplona in the second leg.

Camacho is stubborn in his ideas and mantains the Copa team, different from the one which defeated Espanyol last Saturday in just 10 minutes. Previously there were some comments from the coach which may encouraged his players ( if players don't kick the ball towards the rival goal, it's imposible to score. There must be confidence on the players. ). And Camacho is right, of course, and Osasuna supporters want our players play their best in this kind of games where some of our dreams could come in true.

If we have a look to the route both teams have followed until their confrontation we may see that Osasuna eliminated Xerez, last in the First Division, and Hercules, First in the Second Division. Meanwhile, Racing got rid of Salamanca, a former good team but with no direction in Second division now, and the so-called "matagigantes" Alcorcón.

Last time Racing and Osasuna played in Copa was 12 years ago. Only four players are in their teams now: Josetxo and Puñal in Osasuna and Munitis and Colsa in Racing. But everybody will keep their eyes on a media player today: the young Canales in Racing. It is said that very powerful teams in Europe want him, and that Real Madrid is the first in that list. Last week he scored a nice goal and it's expected that Osasuna defenders will be careful and vigilant on him.

On the other hand, Osasuna will play with another young forward: Galar. He is as young as Canales, but our expectations are lower though I think he'll be a good value for Osasuna future in the next five years. He may need more chances to play in the first team and Camacho's confidence. We'll see who wins this confrontation: Canales vs Galar!

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!