Osasuna-At.Madrid, a match for the leadership or relegation

 
Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! This evening we have a candidate for La Liga championship as a visitor at El Sadar: Atletico de Madrid, with his star Diego Costa as the main character in the last two visits with five goals that gave Simeone's team the three points in both confrontations ( 2-3 ) and (0-2) . As a matter of fact, Atletico haven't lost in their last five years.

Simeone's team is playing a nice football and their figures are the best in their history: 60 points and their scoring figures are astonishing, being the team with the least goals against ( 16 ) and with very good results in La Liga, the last victory against Valladolid ( 3-0 ) and in Milan in the Champions League.

It is true that a week ago the results were disappointing and the doubts came out for a everlasting candidate to do big things in football. They must get the three points to follow their hatred rival in Madrid and after the defeat of Barça in San Sebastian yesterday night.

El Sadar, our stadium must become a strong fortified field for Atletico and continue the way Osasuna confronted the powerfukl Real Madrid and Barcelone, whose results were just a draw against Javi Gracia's team: Real Madrid (2-2) and Barcelona (0-0).

On the other hand, Osasuna have also overcome from their game crisis after their defeats against Athletic ( 1-5 ) and Villarreal ( 3-1 ). They won against a direct rival to avoid relegation at El Sadar, Getafe ( 2-0 ) and got a draw in Elche ( 0-0 ).

Osasuna supporters will see again a desired loved player at El Sadar: Raul Garcia, who helps Diego Costa and Villa to score very good goals, and he also scores very good and important goals. Osasuna misses a player like Raul, but it seems that Oriol Riera's goals are helping us to forget the lack of a good midfielder.

Javi Gracia, Osasuna's coach, can't use Puñal or De Las Cuevas, injured, and it seems taht he will repeat the same kickoff team as in Elche.

KICKOFF TEAMS:

Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Marc Bertrán, Arribas, Loties, Damiá; Silva, Lolo; Cejudo, Torres, Armenteros; Oriol Riera.
Atlético de Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe; Arda, Gabi, Mario, Koke; Raúl García, Diego Costa.

GORA OSASUNA! AUPA ROJILLOS!

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!

Osasuna-Atletico Madrid, another Monday game

Good evening, dear Osasunists! Today is Monday, but we are already used to writing our weekly article for a match in the week, instead of in the weekend. The rival is a historic Atletico de Madrid, which won their first game away last Sunday in Donostia-San Sebastian. But Osasuna must win their match home as it used to happen before the visits of Santander and Valencia. Atletico is a good rival to prove if our team is ready to struggle for European positions or to confirm the habitual target of avoiding relegation. We, the supporters, must lead the team and forget the coldness in the stadium. Simeone has pushed up his players' motivation and they have started to play a good football with the supposed quality of such as wellknown players. Their supporters might have forgotten all their suspictions with previous coach, Manzano, and they are dreaming of going to Europe again. Mendilibar and his players must struggle against that idilic moment of the second team from Madrid and avoid their third consecutive victory in La Liga. Atletico supporters, and perhaps supporters too, are now thinking about the amount of games they need to win to play the Champions next season. They say that they need 12+1 ( instead of the unlucky number ) and they want to start as soon as possible, and maybe the ancient El Sadar is their beginning. On the other hand, Osasuna must keep up struggling with the dream of a good season and mantain the European positions another week. Tonight, there is a strange mark in the pitch as two good friends are going to be in different teams, but both played in Osasuna in a previous team. Raul Garcia and Juanfran are going to meet in the midfield of El Sadar and fight for the control of the ball. They are both well considered in Pamplona, but Juanfran is now in the rival team. I am sure he will gain the love of our supporters, but in the moment of his substitution or the end of the match. Meanwhile, Raul is the second best scorer in Osasuna, in a position connecting the midfield with the habitual forward, either Nino or Ibrahima. The visits of Atletico to Pamplona have been positive for Osasuna. After going back to First Division, Atletico have won two games and they have lost other six games. Last time they won was last year, and I hope it will take more years to watch another victory of the Indians ( as their supporters are called ). Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!