Osasuna-Espanyol, a confrontation to stay in First Division

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! Osasuna play at a usual time on Sunday at El Sadar against an old less hatred rival: Espanyol from Barcelona. A rival that helped Osasuna in the first round, or better said, the victory at Cornella helped Mendilibar to stay in Pamplona after the impressive win ( 0-3 ).

Both teams want to win the game this afternoon to sign a new contract to play in First Division next season, but opposite to previous games this second round, Osasuna is in the advantage side, as the
goalaverage is in favour and it may help in a hypothetical draw in the classification. The results from the previous weeks have narrowed the gap in the low part of the League. Depor and Celta still have expectations to be in La Liga de las Estrellas next season and Zaragoza, Mallorca or Granada too. But the rest up to the position of Espanyol ( 12th with 36 points ) can't keep calm until they reach the dreamed 42 points mark, though the amount might be smaller this seson.

Mendilibar's team, Osasuna, is 15th with 31 points and more eager to win this match to avoid relegation and congratulate their supporters with a new victory to keep on the road of salvation!

An old friend was signed to help Espanyol in La Liga, Javier Aguirre, the coach that is always welcomed in Pamplona and in the list of next season coaches for Osasuna ever. He left Pamplona to lead the National team of Mexico and since then, he has signed for several Spanish teams like Atletico or Zaragoza. He is an intelligent man and he's said that the match this afternoon will be brave, intense and with few opportunities to score goals for both teams, so in his opinion, the key of the match will be the lack of mistakes in each team.

There are few changes in both teams from the previous games against Real Sociedad and Valladolid, and only Tejera and Nano are the new names for the game. The posible kickoff teams may be as follow:

OSASUNA: Andrés; Bertrán, Rubén, Arribas, Damiá; Lolo, F. Silva, Armenteros, Nino, De las Cuevas; Kike Sola
 ESPANYOL: Casilla; J. López, Colotto, H.Moreno, V. Álvarez; V. Sánchez, Forlín; Stuani, Verdú, Simao; Sergio García. 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.