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!

Atletico Madrid-Osasuna, a match to train for Sunday

Good evening, dear Osasunists! Today is Tuesday and there is football again on TV or in a stadium. After the first victory on the fifth stage against Elche, Osasuna have to face Atletico in El Calderon stadium.

But both teams will confront in a different situation in La Liga :Atletico, second with victories in all their games, against Osasuna,in relegation posts. Besides, Atletico might have the derby in their minds and Osasuna their confrontation against Levante next Sunday.

It is true that Simeone's team started the season in an excellent moment with the same points as the powerful Barça, but in my opinion, the team from Manzanares made a brilliant season last year too and it isn't a surprise to see that team on the top of the classification. This isn't the type of confrontation that Osasuna must win. It is "la otra Liga", the one to win the competition, with Barcelona, Madrid and Atletico in the race, and the rest of the teams to struggle for European positions or to avoid relegation to Second Division.

Atletico have started this season as good as the year 1995-96, when they won La Liga and Copa del Rey. Osasuna isn't confident on a good result for their visit to Madrid and Simeone might move the bench to give minutes to other unusual players like Tiago Mendes or Arda Turan, and the ex-osasunists Juanfran Torres or Raul Garcia. Therefore, Osasuna must look for a surprise in La Liga and as there isn't the anxiety to score goals or point in the classification, any scored point on this day is a gift for the team.

Javi Gracia and his players must face this game as a training season and try to fish in a calm stadium on a Tuesday evening whose supporters and players might have next Saturday game in their minds. Osasuna's coach has to make changes from last match against Elche. Roberto Torres is injured and he joined a long list of players out of the team: Álvaro Cejudo, Jon Echaide, Miguel de las Cuevas, Juan Francisco Martínez, 'Nino', and Miguel Flaño. It is a good moment to train new strategies in defence, midfield or forward positions.

Probable kickoff teams:
Atlético de Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe; Tiago, Mario o Gabi; Raúl García, Koke o Villa, Arda Turan; Diego Costa.
Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Damià, Loties, Arribas, Joan Oriol; Sisi, Puñal, Raoul Loé, Silva, Armenteros;Oriol Riera.

Atlético Madrid 3 Osasuna 1 Jornada 9 Liga BBVA... por canalfutbol

Atletico Madrid-Osasuna, a game of friends or a friend game?

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! Here we are again, and another weekend that Osasuna is in trouble!

Our team play in a difficult stadium, at Vicente Calderon, which is living on a dream in Europe and in the home competition. After winning last European League championship, Simeone's players try to keep their supporters' illusion on extending the fight for La Liga to three teams instead of the classical two.

Atletico Madrid are actually second in the Liga and they play against Osasuna, the last in that same classification. Mendilibar's players have been only able to win Levante ( 4-0 ), with 13 points and in European posts now. Besides, Osasuna only got a draw at home last weekend.

Last year there were football stars in both teams, but this year there will be friend meetings, but only one star in the field: Falcao. He is even promoted for the award of the Golden Ball in the fight between Ronaldo and Messi. It is very difficult for the Portuguese to beat the Argentinian, but the Colombian is playing even better than the player in the white team.

After last night Barcelona victory against Rayo, and Messi's two goals, Falcao and his team need to keep on struggling to mantain the distance with the Catalonian team. Many goals, objectives, for a good team and Mendilibar must think of a team to beat that enthusiasm!

Osasuna's coach can't use some important players for his kickoff team. Damiá is sanctioned, Marc Bertran injured, and Susi stayed in Pamplona. After last weekend celebrations on Puñal's record of played matches, the team need to concentrate on getting three points away, far from EL SADAR ( again the official name for our stadium ).

Simeone, on the other hand, likes moving his team after a week game in Europe. His powerful team can play with unusual players like Arda Turan, Godin, the missed Juanfran or the loved Raul Garcia.

Possible kickoff
Atletico de Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Mario Suárez, Gabi, Koke, Raul García, Falcao and Diego Costa.
Osasuna: Andres Fernandez, Oier, Arribas, Lolo, Nano, Puñal, Timor, Cejudo, Armenteros, Lamah y Joseba Llorente.

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!