Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! It's been a long time since I haven't written any post about Osasuna, but work and personal life has been a mess for a while.
As I always say anyone can use this blog for comments and for writing their opinions about Osasuna football matches and anything related to English worldwide.
Tonight, Osasuna is playing against one of the best teams in La Liga and, therefore, in the world: Valencia F.C. This club from the Mediterranean area of Spain is in trouble and there is a turmoil atmosphere over the players and their relationships. After the last results in Europe and in the home championship, the former coach Pellegrino was fired and a new one signed this week.
There will be a confrontation of basque coaches on the benches this evening. Two good friends, Valverde and Mendilibar are meeting at El Sadar in different situations at their clubs with a common career in Athletic Club de Bilbao as football players or former coaches in Bilbao.
Valverde is back in Spain after his glorious time in Greece with Olympiakos winning two home titles in 2011 and 2012, and the Greek Cup last season. But, the players' relationships in Valencia C.F. won't help him have a calm entreé in the Spanish League this season, and as he's said recently he might use more water than gasoil to put out the fire in the ché changing room.
Mendilibar, on the other hand, is living a different situation after a hesitant start in La Liga. There were doubts of Osasuna's supporters with the coach as Osasuna didn't win in the first six games of the actual season. Now, there are 13 points in the clasification and the team is out of the relegation posts. If we compare with Valencia F.C., Osasuna is only 5 points down the team from Levante area. Osasuna have achieved four consecutive games without losing and being scored. The defence and goalkeeper are the most appreciated players in Pamplona these days.
"Chilly" ingredients for a interesting confrontation this evening. Besides, Osasuna mustn't relax after their achievements, as their followers are just one point ahead, like Granada F.C. Therefore, there is more necesity in the side of Mendilibar's team, as he reminded these days, because the new Valverde's players already obtained the pass for next round at the Champions League and Copa del Rey ( by the way, Osasuna and Valencia will confront in this championship this month three times ). So, the players will try to find a place in Valverde's board.
There are different aims on the two benches. Mendilibar will try to broaden the gap between Osasuna and their followers and Valverde's job is to recover a group of good players to become a very good team again, as I think they are out of the race to win the Liga championship, very far away from the leaders F.C. Barcelona, Atletico or Real Madrid. Valencia F.C. will have to struggle this season to get a passport for Europe either through Europe League ( 4 points away ) or the Champions League ( 7 points away ).
What about the players? In the side of Valencia F.C., Jonas can't play as he was sent out last match against Real Sociedad, or Valverde can't use the injured Víctor Ruiz and Joao Pereira. Mendilibar, for Tajonar's side must find good players to substitute Nino, Masoud or Sisi, injured for the rest of the season against Rayo, or the lately injured players Marc Betrán or Kike Sola.
Probable kickoff teams:
Atlético Osasuna: Andres Fernandez, Damia, Arribas, Flaño, Nano, Timor, Loe, Lamah, Cejudo, Armenteros, and Joseba Llorente.
Valencia CF: Alves, Barragan, Ricardo Costa, Rami, Guardado, Albelda, Fernando Gago, Banega, Feghouli, Piatti, y Soldado.
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