Rayo-Osasuna: let's start the weekend with good news!

Good evening, dear Osasunists!
We have started the weekend a few hours ago, but it will be a different weekend if we can go to sleep with good news from Vallecas, the neighbourhood of Rayo football team.

Osasuna must vanish the relegation issue if they are able to fish points at one of their most difficult stadiums in history. There is another problem for Osasuna, apart from historical bad results in Vallecas, that is the fact that Rayo have their last opportunity to fight for a place to go to Europe next season and they may see Osasuna as a perfect rival to achieve that brilliant goal.

Mendilibar's team is only four points away from the relegation posts and they have to break that bad patch of lost games at home and away so that they may increase the gap with their pursuers. After three consecutive matches, "the reds" have to change the final result from last year at Vallecas.

It was also in April, on the 7th, when Michu (2), Movilla, Tito, Diego Costa and the actual Osasuna player Armenteros scored six goals, what became the best  result for Rayo in history as a team in First Division. Besides, Osasuna have only got a draw and a victory out of their seven visits to Vallecas.

Osasuna will have to face this situation without some of their best players. Oier and Armenteros are sanctioned, and the latter won't be able to play against his ex-colleagues. Also, Annan, Ruben and Bertran are injured.

On the other hand, Rayo's coach, Paco Jemez, is about to make another punch in the club history. They might go to the Europe League and Osasuna can be a perfect victim for them. They also have some important injured players, like Brazilian Leo Baptistao or Tamudo.

 

OSASUNA: Andrés; Damiá, Arribas, Flaño, Nano; Loe, Silva; Cejudo, Armenteros, De las Cuevas; Sola.

GORA OSASUNA! AUPA ROJILLOS! EVEN WHEN THE RESULTS MAY EMBARRASE OTHER TEAM SUPPORTERS

Osasuna-Real Sociedad, game over!

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! Tonight it's the only football day and it is the last match of the season at El Sadar! Osasuna says goodbye in front of their supporters against "our brothers" Real Sociedad at nine o'clock in the evening! After 36 games, we must say that we, Osasuna supporters, have forgotten those times of agony and nerves when our players were struggling in the last season game to mantain the category of First Division team. This season Osasuna reached their start goal many weeks ago, and it is true that Osasuna didn't know to play for different goals! I can't say that Osasuna don't want to go to Europe next year, but I think that a similar situation won't be possible again. What it is for sure is that tonight is a farewell game for many reasons! Not only the season will be over at our stadium, El Sadar ( by the way, that will be its official name next season again ), but also some players in both teams will play ( or not ) their last career game. I got a tweet two days ago with Ricardo's words saying that he is quite tired of tournaments and trips. It was a short comment taken as a farewell, and we have to bear in mind that he hasn't played a single minute this season. I think that Mendilibar, if he is aware of the news, should act and have Ricardo in the kickoff team, and there won't be noticed! There are many things to thank and congratulate to Ricardo. Another player at Osasuna team who leaves, for sure, is Raul Garcia. Perhaps, his position in Atletico is covered, but I think that Atletico managers have another idea to get money from that good player. I had a debate at twitter with some followers about the excellence of Raul Garcia and we didn't reach to an agreement of his relevance. I think that his season has been excellent but there were other magnificient players in Osasuna history who were more necessary for the team than Raul Garcia. I mean the famous three scorers at the 80's ( Echeverria-Iriguibel-Martin ), when we now invent the "tridente" we realized it was already invented. Or when the Englishmen, Michael Robinson and Sammie Lee arrived and changed our way of thinking. Or that polish excellent player, Jan Urban, who made us dream with Europe for the first time! Anyway, Raul will be a sensitive loss. Finally, the last but not the least is our chairman, Patxi Izco. He cried in his farewell yerterday in front of the journalists, but I think that supporters in El Sadar will have another opinion. If I have to be unbias, I must say that his work in the club has been good, but due to the crisis in the country and Europe, he may leave the club in a weak position for the next chairman and their executives. It will be difficult to manage the club and I suppose there will be a continuation and Artxanco is the most probable succesor. As you see, the game itself is the less important thing for tonight game. We are supposed to fight for a place in Europe, though it seems to be quite imposible. Osasuna must win the last two games against Real Sociedad and Racing Santander. Supporters might be more eager to get that prize than players themselves. There are some reasons for that. First, Osasuna play a derby against Real Sociedad tonight. We have memories of good games when each team "helped" the other in some different situations. Bear in mind that our mutual "enemy" is Athletic and players form Bilbao already got next season place for Europe and Real Sociedad is as safe as Osasuna for next season in First Division. I think they are more relaxed than Osasuna players and we must make a profit of it. Another reason for my point to win the match is that another fooballer is saying goodbye tonight, now at Real Sociedad side. Mikel Aramburu, similar to our Patxi Puñal, the captain, is retiring at the end of this season. I suppose it will be a handicap for them! Osasuna must paly without four injured players:Kike Sola, Masoud, Echaide and Sergio; and three sanctioned: Leka, Damiá and Roversio. On the other hand, Flaño, Loe, Onwu and Satrustegi might be back, but I suppose the kickoff team will be: Andrés; Bertrán, Flaño, Lolo, Raitala o Satrustegui; Puñal, Neko and Raúl García; Cejudo or Lamah, Ibra and Nino. Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Games for Europe in the Mediterranean Sea and...Bilbao

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists!Tonight there is football and it is the Spanish League! After last weekend confrontations the positions in La Liga are similar to the beginning of the previous match against Villarreal. Osasuna stayed at Valencia for six days to prepare the final assault to the seventh post, which may take the holder to Europe next season. Osasuna might depend on other results tonight to see their options in their new target: European League. Malaga plays in Barcelona against Pep's team and we expect that Barça players want to dedicate their coach the rest of their victories before Guardiola leaves the bench at Camp Nou. Last Saturday, Osasuna played against Villarreal a match many people watched on the TV. Today it's another game on La Sexta and some of the supporters agreed that Osasuna players had a good play at El Madrigal and though they only got a draw, they could have either won or lost as Lotina's team also are struggling for a different target: avoid relegation to Second Division for next season. Valencia and Osasuna confront at Mestalla tonight in a delayed match due to previous strike on first day of the actual season. Emery is on the edge of losing temper with the local journals and their supporters. It is said that he will leave Valencia next season, in a different way as Pep Guardiola is going to do in Barcelona. Valencia F.C. are supposed to gain the third position, but Malaga F.C. are following them and they even start this evening match with the same points. If Osasuna are able to get a point at least tonight, they will get Valencia into trouble and they will have to win at a vital derby next Saturday. Osasuna are on the eighth position, two points away from Europe. If results are positive tonight, they might "sleep" in Europe tonight. They will go into the pitch with the knowledge of the result in Madrid with the confrontation between Atletico and Real Sociedad, and also the results of Barça-Malaga and Zaragoza-Levante. If Malaga and Levante lose their matches or, at least, get only a draw, Valencia players might play more relaxed than if those rivals get the three points. There are some injured players for Mendilibar's team. Echaide, Masoud didn't travel to that ministage at the Mediterranean Sea to play against Villarreal and Valencia. Kike Sola and Sergio might only have sunburnts at the beaches in Valencia, and Miguel Flaño alike. Therefore, the probable kickoff teams are: Valencia CF: Guaita, Barragán, Rami, Ricardo Costa, J. Alba, Albelda, Parejo, Pablo Hernández, Piatti o Bernat, Jonas, and Soldado. Club Atlético Osasuna: Andrés Fernández, Marc Bertrán, Lolo, Roversio, Damiá, Puñal, Nekounam, Cejudo, Lamah, Raúl García, and Nino. Finally, I want to say that I will also support another team at the same time Osasuna play against Valencia. I keep an eye on the monitor to watch on TV the confrontation between Athletic from Bilbao and that team which is supposed to win the actual League. Aupa Athletic, and I hope Ronaldo lose the pichichi this week. Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Thank you, Pep...and Villarreal-Osasuna

Good morning, dear Osasunists! Tonight Osasuna plays against Villarreal at El Madrigal with very different aims, overall if we remind at the beginning of the season the Mediterranean team was supposed to be on the top positions and Osasuna would have to struggle to avoid relegation to Second Division. Actually, the situation is the opposite. We, as Osasunists, have a calculator in our pockets with our home keys. After this week European matches and the European League final confrontation Atletico-Athletic, plus the Copa del Rey final Barça-Athletic, even the team on the seventh position in the final classification in the Spanish League might go to Europe next season. Main rivals for Osasuna are Sevilla, Getafe and Espanyol, as they should lose their confrotations or get the least points up to the end of the season. The match in Villarreal tonight is key for Osasuna as they confront a weak team now. A victory will lead Osasuna to European positions.Villarreal, on the other hand, will have an eye on Sporting and Zaragoza, which are playing against two European rivals for Osasuna: Getafe and Athletic. Osasuna will definitely get their final situation in the Mediterranean stadiums. In fact, they will stay in that area for the next six days as they are playing against Villarreal and Valencia in those days. Both teams could be good rivals to get points, as I said with Villarreal because of their actual position in La Liga, and because Valencia was out of the European League Final against Atletico last Thursday and I am sure that will affect the city, the coach Emery and the players in Valencia F.C. Mendilibar is meeting an old friend for Osasuna on Villarreal bench, Lotina. Good news for Osasuna is Raul Garcia and Ibrahima's back and there are only two injured players, Masoud and Echaide. There are 23 players in this concentration period for those two games in the region of Valencia. Kickoff teams: Villarreal: Diego López; Mario, Musacchio, Zapata, Jaume Costa, Bruno Soriano, Marcos Senna, Borja Valero, Cani, Hernán Pérez and Marco Ruben. Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Marc Bertrán, Lolo, Roversio, Damià; Puñal, Nekounam; Cejudo, Raúl García, Nino; and Lekic. Finally, I want to talk about this week sport news, which the most important one is Guardiola's leave from Barça's bench. I have always admired the Catalonian's work as you can read from former articles and I have never hidden my support to his achievements and Barça's awards and prizes. Here it is my sincere tribute to Pep Guardiola

Levante-Osasuna, a game for Europe!!!!!

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! Today we have a game away, and it is unbelievable to say that both team, which were supposed to struggle for a relegating post this season, will play for a post in Europe! Osasuna and Levante are playing at the stadium Ciutat de Valencia, and they are 7th and 4th in the Spanish League! Levante F.C. are playing their best football in their history and nobody was expecting such a good season with any millionare player and an unknown coach, Juan Ignacio Martinez, my nameshake, with the same name as myself. After last night results, not only they would play in the Champions League next season, but they would also fight for the 3rd position in the Spanish League after the powerful teams from Madrid and Barcelona. There isn't any star player in the team, but very balanced in each position of the field. They are tough in defence, hardworking in the midfield, and determined towards the opposite goal with experienced players like Barkero or Xavi Torres. The most dangerous players for the defenders at Osasuna are Koné, with 10 goals, and Ruben Suarez, with 8 goals, though the latter didn't play many times. On the other hand, Osasuna must show more ambition in their away games. But we should say that after the victory of Zaragoza at Mestalla and the victory of Getafe F.C. last night against the same rival, the third powerful team in the Spanish League: Valencia F.C. Only first team in the classification and Barça have lost less matches this season than Mendilibar's team. Nevertheless, the main target of the season, the salvation, is not gained yet. Osasuna have not lost in their last five confrontations in the League ust show a tougher play in Valencia against Levante. We need fighter players in Osasuna and I hope that Sergio, Piñal and Lekic are in the kickoff team at four afternoon. Each player is basic for each line in the team of Mendilibar. There is no doubt that Andres Fernandez is very important in the goal, sure!! Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Osasuna-Getafe, the salvation game

Good evening Osasunists! When the last weekend games just finished yesterday with the usual Monday match, Osasuna and Getafe start a new period this evening, the spring I mean, at the old Sadar. Both teams are seeking the same target which is the salvation to perhaps swap it for a higher objective which is to go to Europe next season! Both coaches still have the same speech in the media, as they want to calm down the euforia in both supporter lines and papers. Actually, there are more than three points to win this evening! If a team wins, they will get the desiderd 42 points that make sure to keep in First Division another year. However, it has been said that amount of points is enough but it is not the same every year! Perhaps, due to the huge distance from the bottom posts this year might be a good number to mantain in the famous Liga de las Estrellas. Bu Getafe's coach, Garcia, has marked that they had to struggle to save their position in the last games last year after getting more than 42 points. There are good news for Osasuna this evening. Leka, who was supposed to miss the rest of the season, is back to the reds bench. Dejan Kekic got injured at the end last February, but he got over very quickly from his injuried arm. Miguel Flaño is also back after being suspended for yellow cards, so it is time to rest for players like Echaide or Sergio, more for the laister than the former. Sergio was part of a "joke" in Mendilibar's words, referrong to his age and his need of resting. The old Sadar stadium is not a bad stadium for Getafe as they have always obtained some points in their seven visits in First Division. Osasuna won twice, there were two draws and the "blues" got all the points three times. There has been another draw this season with two goals from the scorers Güiza and Ibrahima. At least, we hope there will be as many goals this evening as in that match. Kickoff teams! Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos! CA Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Marc Bertrán, Roversio, Miguel Flaño, Damia; Puñal, Nekounam; Álvaro Cejudo, Raúl García, Lamah; and Nino. Getafe CF: Moya; Valera, Cata Díaz, Alexis, Mane; Míchel, Lacen; Pedro Ríos, Barrada, Diego Castro; and Miku.