Osasuna-Zaragoza, time for brotherhood and rivalry

 

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! It's time to leave the red positions away. Osasuna and Zaragoza play at El Sadar with a similar goal: to win and leave the rival down at the classification.

Osasuna is in a positive journey towards that aim, as since the second round started they have won their two local matches against Deportivo and Celta. Besides, the "reds" got a draw ( 1-1 ) last Saturday against Mallorca away, though they could have won the three points, if Andres hadn't missed a ball.

Defense is the best position at Osasuna side and it is a strong team very difficult to beat. The weakest position is the forward where they didn't score many goals in the season. Another thing to bear in mind is the few victories at home, just four out of twelve matches.

Mendilibar, Osasuna's coach, is very unpredictable for a kickoff team, but it is supposed to play with Kike Sola, Cejudo or Arribas as different players from the ones who played in Mallorca.

On the other hand, Zaragoza F.C. are very worried of the confrontation, as they are determined to stay in First Division and they haven't been in relegation posts since the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, their new year matches haven't been successful and they only got two points in their matches in 2013.

Manolo Jimenez can't use some of their key players for this match. Alvaro Gonzalez and Helder Postiga, or Romaric are very important for the club but they can't play tonight. Therefore, the kickoff team will be very different from the usual one, and the new forward, Rochina, can  show his best.

Gora Osasuna!Aupa Rojillos!
Possible kickoff teams:
. Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Marc Bertrán, Arribas, Rubén, Damiá; Lolo, Oier Sanjurjo, Cejudo, Silva, Armenteros; Kike Sola.
. Zaragoza: Roberto; Sapunaru, Pintér, Paredes, Abraham; Movilla, José Mari; Víctor Rodríguez, Apoño, Montañés; Rochina.

Real Zaragoza-Osasuna, the season-course starts

Good morning, dear Osasunists and followers! After a long summer break, we start a new season with a derby against Real Zaragoza, our estimated-hatred "neighbours" in the south. There have been four games before and Osasuna only got one point out twelve, and that was last Sunday against Mallorca. The football season has just started, but our team is under many doubts from the supporters, though many football journalists say that Osasuna play a good game. Today is a good moment to show their best and cheer up their supporters and hooligans in Zaragoza. Hooligans!!! That is a main problem for both chairmen, in Zaragoza and Pamplona. After the nationalists debate in Catalonia and some riots in AUgust, it is supposed to be a clushing afternoon in Zaragoza between Ligallos and Indargorris. THere will be many people to watch the match: families, children,.... football lovers! And I hope nothing wrong happens and police officers don't have to take part in the event! Talking about football itself, Osasuna got points in their last four visits to La Romareda stadium, and last year it was a draw ( 1-1 ). If we talk about today players in Osasuna, Mendilibar can use any of his players in the team except for Llorente, who was sent out last game against Mallorca, Patxi Puñal who got a penalty of three games and some injured like Beltran. Kickoff teams ZARAGOZA: Roberto; Sapunaru, Alvaro, Paredes, Abraham; Apoño, Movilla o José Mari, Romaric o Zuculini; Edu Oriol, Postiga and Montañés. OSASUNA: Andrés Fernández; Oier Sanjurjo, Arribas, Miguel Flaño, Nano; Annan, Timor; Cejudo, Armenteros, Sisi; y Kike Sola. GORA OSASUNA!AUPA ROJILLOS!

Zaragoza-Osasuna, a football break at St. Patrick's Day

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! After last weekend match against Athletic de Bilbao, there is another derby away. This time is against Real Zaragoza, a team which is in a dangerous urgent situation in the League. From the very beginning of the season, the team of the river Ebro city is at the bottom of the classification. Nevertheless, Zaragoza is still able to reverse their position as the salvation post is nine points ahead, though they have lost their last four games. Not only the classification is a problem for the club in Zaragoza, but also their chairman is a problem himself! Most of their supporters can't stand Agapito Iglesias any longer! He is more than a dictator like Francisco Franco, but he is also a manipulator in his club, as he is considered to get more power in the club if possible! On the other hand, our club, Osasuna, is in his best moment since the beginning of this 2011/12 season! We are 6th in the League and struggling for a post in Champions! After defeating this week most praised team in Europe, Athletic de Bilbao, Osasuna is in the way to obtain a post to go to Europe next season, in the same competition like Real Madrid and Barça, the Champions League! Osasuna must take advantage of the critical situation of their rival, the anxiety that there is in the city for a victory, the anger the Zaragoza supporters have against their chairman, and the fact that six teams out of twelve got the three points from La Romareda stadium! Zaragoza spent a lot of money in the winter market when most of the clubs are suffering from the widely known crisis that also affected the football in Spain. They signed national and international players like defender Pablo Álvarez, midfielder Apoño and Dujmovic and the former forward from Osasuna, Aranda. Remember there was an also well known and admired trainer in Zaragoza until last January, our missed "vasco" Aguirre, who was replaced by former Sevilla F.C. coach, Manolo Jimenez. Osasuna is still thinking of getting the needed points to mantain the post in First Division. If Osasuna gets the victory this afternoon-evening, they will have 41 points. Enough points to make sure they will be next season in the so called Liga de las Estrellas! Osasuna players are thrilled after their victory against the hatred Bilbao, and they know, we, the supporters do not like Zaragoza as we used to. And they are aware of their opportunity to change target in this moment of the season. A very motivating Europe League or Champions is waiting for them!! There have been many amazing words and comments for a coach like Bielsa, but Osasuna have a coach from Bizkaia, a former Athletic coach, who in spite of a doubtful start and a mistaken comment, Mendilibar is doing very well in Pamplona! He must form a team with several injured players, overall in the forward positions, but he has even encouraged young players like Raoul or Manu Onwu, from the club youth team! Besides, he is going to call a long time injured player like Echaide who might have some minutes to play in Zaragoza after two years without wearing football boots!

Finally, we must remmber that even when there are some links in both cities from families ( I have relatives in Zaragoza ) to banks ( there might be a bank fussion between Banca Civica from Pamplona and Ibercaja from Zaragoza ), ther is also a deep hate in both hooligan supporters, Ligallo and Indar Gorri! I talked about hooloigans this week, and I still think of those groups to be a cancer for the brotherhood of the football idea and it is a pity for many of us who may want to have a good day in a nearby city and enjoy our craze, but due to some crazy violent people we must stay at home and watch the match through the computer or pay-per-view channels!
Zaragoza 1 Osasuna 3 por jordixana Gora Osauna! Aupa Rojillos!

Osasuna-Zaragoza, another derby with history

Good afternoon, Osasunists!Today we are living another derby at The Reyno de Navarra stadium. By the way, the other day I heard that the sponsor is going to retrive the support to Osasuna!Is it going to rename the stadium to my loved EL SADAR?
Anyway, as I said Zaragoza is back to our home. And I am very happy, moved by this visit. As I always say I have relatives in that city and we always lived our rivalry with a lot of respect and humour. There was never hate or anger in our comments or actions. Our feeling was the love to our team.
The most of the content of this article is from an article in a newspaper in Zaragoza that is about the origin of the hatred relations between both supporters'main groups: Indar Gorri and Ligallo. Both are unpopular in Zaragoza and Pamplona, but I think most of the citizens in both cities appreciate the other team, or not??? ( have a look to my link about the likes and dislikes in football )
Osasuna and Zaragoza play another game in First Division after some years in Second Division. This confrontation was quite a sense of a festivity and joyful day and now is another one in the season, and perhaps with a sense of scare and doubtness to cross the frontier. There is no passsion or joyness in the stadium,with a mixture of red and white colours in the same side of the stadium. On the contrary, there is HATE, INSULTS, AND UNRESPECT TO OTHER'S BELIEFS.
This is a story about how it started 20 years ago. By the way, I was there. Now, as many Osasuna and Zaragoza supporters, I do not go with my team to Zaragoza. I can't show my Osasuna shirt there and my family either!

There are only memories of good times that will never come back. There won't be songs between both supporters groups. I was not born, but Osasuna was in the presentation of the former stadium of Zaragoza F.C., Torrero, in 1923. And Osasuna also inaugurated the Romareda stadium in 1957. And, of course, the "maños", the familiar and friendly way of calling the people from Zaragoza, came to Pamplona in 1967 to inaugurate El Sadar.

When Osasuna got promoted in 80's there were about 7,000 people from all Navarra to visit Zaragoza a match day. And when Zaragoza visited Pamplona it was normal to see many people in white and blue in our city.

But everything changed in October 1987, when a bottle hit Roberto's head. It was, maybe, an isolated action that generated the birth and growth of a radical group in Zaragoza, Los Ligallo, and another in Pamplona, Indar Gorri.

The match between Zaragoza and Osasuna was on 4th October 1987. Perhaps, some of those people who generated the radical group started that action and, as some others in Osasuna did the same in other stadiums in Spain, and there were police officers in the stadium, there was a non-expected and unfair action against Osasuna supporters in La Romareda, when we didn't start it. Everyone in Osasuna club supported us and then it began a relationship of love between Indar Gorri and the club.

There have been some gestures to change this feeling, from the clubs and the teams, but radical supporters will never be the same. There are strong political ideas to split them, but perhaps, after Thursday's good news thing may change too, and there is an insult "ceasefire" in the stadiums!

I hope one day I will see it, like Thursday's news about ETA.
Finally, this is a video for all Osasunists, but overall for Mendilibar. This is the love of Osasunists to our team!
Gora Osasuna!Aupa Rojillos!

Zaragoza F.C.-Osasuna, a hard brother game

Osasuna plays the second final of five before the season ends and the match tonight is in one of the most hatred cities for Osasuna supporters: Zaragoza and La Romareda.

Yesterday results are against Osasuna options to keep their positions in first division and they must get at least one point out of three or better win the match. Remember that Almeria is already a Second Division team and Hercules and Deportivo lost their games on Saturday.

Anyway, the matches against Zaragoza are always very tense, no matter which position both teams are in the League.I only miss the good atmosphere I enjoyed in my visits to Zaragoza and a match like tonight's was always expected and was a day of meeting family and friends. It's a pity that those times will never be back.

If we talk about football, I must say that Osasuna have to give value to last weekend victory against Valencia and play as well as they did at The Reyno de Navarra stadium. Perhaps their situation at this time of the season is making that Osasuna players do their best in each game and know how to ovecome bad situations in the match time.

Mendilibar, Osasuna coach, can use two good ex-Zaragoza players for Osasuna purposes and I have the feeling that they will be an essential part for a positive end. Soriano and Sergio used to play for Zaragoza and they know how to deal with critical situations. I have read their interviews during the week in the papers and I strongly agree with them that this rivalry must go back to past times of wit chants and honest comments.

The problem is in the forward line, where neither Pandiani nor Aranda are playing tonight. I hope that their natural substitutes, Leka and Vadócz will play fine to not miss them.

On the other hand is Zaragoza F.C. They changed coach like Osasuna. Neither Mendilibar nor Aguirre started the season on their benches, but they have improved their teams competitivity and Zaragoza have won their last four home games and everybody in Osasuna knows how good is "EL VASCO" to handle in difficult situations like this one. We, Osasuna supporters will always have Aguirre in our hearts and minds.
But there is no time for presents nor good feelings! It's time for winning and avoid Second Division relegation!
Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Osasuna-Zaragoza...and Merry Christmas!!!

Good afternoon, dear Osasunists! Today we have the last game of the year 2010 and the last game of the first round of the League.
Luckily or unfortunately, this last game is against a well-known team and the confrontation is usually called "a derby". Today Real Zaragoza is visiting the Reyno de Navarra stadium.
Last year I talked about my links with Zaragoza city and my relatives there!So the word derby is very accurate for most of the citizens in both cities, but the problem is that "globalization" in the teams has devalued this confrontation as there are many "foreigners" in both teams.
The fraternal fight between Osasuna and Zaragoza has always been a good reason to visit the rival's stadium and have a good day out, a short daytrip that unfortunately some years ago they were marked by insults and fights in the streets or stadiums which made some supporters think twice wheter travel or not.
This year the derby is conditioned to both team placement in the League. Osasuna is a strong team in the Reyno, but until last weekend team it was one of the worst teams playing away their stadiums. Camacho's team is still the only????? team which have not won away, and I have been very critical to Osasuna's coach, but I must be sincere and say that when I watch the second half against Valencia F.C., I felt very proud of being an Osasuna fan/supporter and and I appreciate Camacho's job in Osasuna's players'confidence to do their best in any team.
Zaragoza is the opposite situation. They've changed coach, and now there's another well-known and friend person: Javier Aguirre. The Mexican coach is a constant fighter in any of the teams he's been working for and he's a very good motivating coach. Another "for" characteristic of Aguirre is, of course, that he trained Osasuna and Osasuna achieved their best, as we were classified for the Champions League for the first time in history! But now everything is different and the situation in the club of the city of El Pilar ( nobody wants to insult her ) is not as heavenly desired!And Zaragoza supporters are unhappy with their players and even still their new coach!!!Let's what happens this afternoon!
Finally, I want to write some lines to desirre all the best for all of you my unknown but loved readers. This is my last article of football of the year and I wish all you MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!
GORA OSASUNA!AUPA ROJILLOS!

Osasuna-Zaragoza, a brotherhood confrontation

Happy Sunday, dear Osasuna supporters! Today we're, I hope, enjoying one of those games all Osasuna fans mark in red from the very beginning of the season as we get the calendar: Osasuna-Zaragoza.

As I said in November when Osasuna visited Zaragoza, I have relatives in that city and the rivalry between both teams is something I've learned from my childhood. There have been more times in the past when we, Osasuna fans, had to hide and go headoff as "the maños" were going mad laghing at us.

But in the last five-ten years the joy is at El Sadar, as it was known our stadium then, or now at the Reyno de Navarra stadium. R.C.D. Zaragoza is again in first division this year after playing in the so-called "Inferno" of the Second Division, and now that the League is eight games left to come to an end, they are still suffering to keep in the First Division.

Actually, the three teams which were promoted to First Division are in danger to return to Second Division, but Osasuna, though is in a comfortable position, is not completely saved. These three points, besides those against Malaga next Wednesday, are key to leave any doubt behind, and perhaps to enjoy the last games of the season in May and to think of next season needs and resolutions.
Yesterday, 40 million people in Spain alike, I watched the derby between Real Madrid-Barça. In spite of not being the best match I've ever watched, I could appreciate how Guardiola's players were completely concentrated on their target: to win the match and, maybe, with the final result to get at least "half of the League Cup". And in the end they got their aim, and when their coach was interviewed how he makes his players play so well, his answer was he commands them to run and keep their position to help their playmate, and of course they are very good players.
My point is that, of course, Camacho's players are not as good as Guardiola's, but Osasuna's coach has been unable to mentalize Osasuna players in key matches. I'm still angry, as many Osasuna supporters, of the defeat against Racing in Copa del Rey in Pamplona, and I'm sure our players didn't leave the dressing room as they had to. The final result could have been the same, but the attitude was of lack of concentration. Valdano, Real Madrid's manager, said that his players were very stressed and anxious before and during the game. I'M VERY STRESSED AND ANXIOUS AT MY JOB POST!

Football players must be and feel lucky of their proffesion, because they are working in a job they chose, probably, since they were less than five years old. They get paid quite well, though there is a strike announce for next Sunday, and they are very well considered by the society, they are the new era heroes and icons. And as they have that figure, they are guilty of many of our disappointments in life, and our anger during the complete week. A supporter is willing of watching his team every Sunday and when games like today come, we feel nervous, anxious and desireful to defeat our maximum rival: in this case, Zaragoza.

I'll be very disappointed if Osasuna don't get the three points this afternoon. It will be a very frustrating end of Easter holidays to face some of my Zaragoza supporter students and see their smile in their faces. This is the most important game in the year for Osasuna players, as it was for Barça yesterday's. I hope we'll be as happy as those fans who went out at Canaletas Square after the result at Bernabeu Stadium, and perhaps all us can meet at Plaza del Castillo and sing Osasuna songs soon.
Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!