Valencia C.F.-C.A. Osasuna, another Monday game

The weekend’s Primera Division action concludes with Valencia attempting to strengthen their push for a Champions League spot against Osasuna.

Going into the weekend, los Che sit one place behind Espanyol, who occupy the magic fourth spot, but the Mestalla outfit cannot hope to claim that prize from the Catalans immediately as there is a four point margin that first has to be bridged. Unai Emery’s men will hope to take the first steps to doing that on Monday.

Over the course of the last week, los Che have been faced with two very testing matches. The first came away to Real Madrid and was largely a disappointing experience as Valencia failed to test the defensive solidarity of the rocking Blancos. Emery opted for a defensive approach and would be punished with a 2-0 defeat, albeit suffering only after David Albelda had been rather harshly dismissed.

Better would follow against Manchester United in midweek, when a 1-1 draw was earned at Old Trafford. Again this would be a performance tinged with some disappointment as the Spaniards were ahead but could not hold on.

“I clearly believe that Valencia are able to compete with anyone and play well at any field, as seen in our performance in Manchester,” Emery explained to the media.

Los Rojillos are the challenge that has been next placed in front of los Che, so Emery’s words will again be put to the test.

Split Personality

Jose Antonio Camacho’s Osasuna side continue to be one-of the most two-faced in the league. A trip to the Reyno de Navarre is not a journey that many will relish, but equally hosting los Rojillos shouldn’t prove to be too problematic given that they’ve earned only one point from a possible 21 on the road.

Even los Rojillos’ terrific record at home wasn’t enough to worry Barcelona last weekend as the defending champions romped to a somewhat flattering 3-0 success, despite something of an odyssey trying to reach the ground. Camacho praised the attitude of his players during that encounter, hoping that they can display similar resilience in future encounters.

A trip to Valencia doesn’t promise a good deal for the Pamplona side, who were hammered 3-0 at the Mestalla last season. Camacho’s men weren’t a good deal better on the road last term, and failed to win a match on their travels apart from against the last four teams alphabetically in La Liga, who by some quirk of fate all went down against los Rojillos.

With a history of underachievement outside Pamplona, Osasuna cannot hope for too much against Valencia. Los Che can be erratic, and if their guests stumble into the kind of form that has seen them regularly impress at home then there is a slim chance of an upset.

Mallorca-Osasuna, another match on Monday

Good evening, dear Osasuna supporters! Here we are again!
We start a new week and Osasunists feel different from other football supporters as we didn't get the satisfaction??? of a weekend of passion and suffering from our loved team.

We've been waiting on the sofa or coach as in the drawing above! This cartoon represents our lack of motivation in the last games after the results of Osasuna against their rivals. It's a brilliant cartoon drawing, as always, from the great cartoon maker: Cesar Oroz, who I have the honour to know from his schooltime, as my brother and he studied at the same classroom and they are still friends, so I consider myself!

This evening we're visiting a difficult stadium: Saint Moix in Mallorca. During this season Mallorca have been the surprising team of the League and they are still in those positions that let play the Champions the following season. ( Do you remember that year in 2005 of the Copa del Rey final and the 4th position in League???? )

The Ono stadium is a very good fortress for Mallorca and they have won 13 matches out of 15 in this season. They are the third best home team in the League after Real Madrid and Barça. Therefore, as it is usually said: "cristal clear, this is Imposible Mission, not even for Tom Cruise's famous actions and if Osasuna gets a draw, it will be a brilliant victory for our players!

There are two ex-Osasuna players in Mallorca: Quique Corrales and Pierre Webo. The Kamerunian player is very desired and remembered in Pamplona. He's scored six goals this season, but he hasn't played many complete games with Manzano. Now he seems to have recovered his post in the kickoff team.

Finally, I'm going to comment the problems Osasuna and other people have had this week to travel. As you may know the only way to reach Mallorca is by sea or air, and the news about the Norwegian volcano eruption has caused many problems in the flight traffic all over Europe. Even yesterday in the morning Osasuna was in talks with the FEF ( Spanish Football Federation ) in the case the game couldn't be played as Osasuna was unable to travel and get Mallorca. In the end, the airport at Noain opened and they took a charter flight to Mallorca at 8.30 in the evening and could spend the night in a hotel ( luckier than Barça, who had to travel by bus to Milan as Barcelona airport and Italian airports are closed ).

Let's see if this fact is a good start for tonight game. Aupa Rojillos! Gora Osasuna!
Kickoff teams:
Mallorca: Aouate; Josemi, Nunes, Rubén, Ayoze; Mattioni, Martí, Borja Valero,Varela; Webó and Aduriz.

Osasuna: Ricardo; Azpilicueta, Miguel Flaño, Josetxo, Monreal; Juanfran, Puñal, Vadocz, Camuñas; Masoud and Aranda.

Referee: Pérez Lasa.

Stadium: Ono Estadi.

Time: 21.00 ( GolTV )

Atletico de Madrid-Osasuna, an end week game

Here we are again! It was yesterday when we said that today's match is a strange confrontation for several reasons!

First, the day isn't the usual one as it's played on Monday and not in the weekend. It isn't the first time that the League plays matches in the week. Apart from those week games for National Teams purposes ( next one is on 23-25 March and Osasuna plays against Barcelona F.C. ), some years ago the Spanish League tried this formula and the private TV channel, Antena3, used to broadcast it.

The invention lasted two or three years the most. It was an absolute bluff as the economical loses were huge and, of course, when big powerful teams like Real Madrid or Barça had to play on those days, they complained to the chairman of LFP ( the bunch of chairmen of the proffessional football teams ) and in spite of their profits they refused the money and chose the quietness of playing in the weekend.

The game is also rare because Osasuna is playing against Atletico with the same points, at a below position due to goalaverage, as Osasuna forwards, like Pandiani or Aranda, who is not playing tonight, do not score many goals.
On the other hand, and as a positive point for Osasuna is the difference in the goalkeepers. Ricardo is the official and secure veteran goalkeeper of Osasuna. Only Real Madrid Casillas and Barça Valdes are in the fight for the Zamora trophy ( the best goalkeeper in the League ).

Osasuna has another opportunity to show us, their supporters that they are able to do better than to avoid relegation posts. But in the last four games, Camacho's men have only got two out of the twelve possible points.
The Vicente Calderon stadium has always been a good place to add points and see good games. It is said they have the best supporters in the League??? ( those who have been accused of killing a Real Sociedad supporter??? the so-called "INDIOS"???) and Osasuna must make a profit of the UEFA match Atletico plyed last Thursday!
Last year Osasuna came back to Pamplona with a brilliant victory ( 2-4 ) and a wonderful goal scored by Masoud. Let's hope this year the result may be the same, even when the final score be less impressive.

Posible kickoff teams:
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Antonio López; Jurado, Assunçao, Raúl García, Simao; Forlán and Agüero

Osasuna: Ricardo; Monreal, Miguel Flaño, Sergio, Azpilicueta; Vadocz, Nekounam, Camuñas, Juanfran; Pandiani and Masoud

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!