Osasuna-Real Madrid, and the golden ball is for...!!!

 

Good evening, dear Osasunists! Tonight there is football at El Sadar and an old hatred rival is visiting our home for the second leg in Copa del Rey: Real Madrid. The confrontation in Madrid finished with the victory of Ancelotti's team ( 2-0 ), but I think there's a relaxing atmosphere in the powerful side, overall after the ceremony of the Golden Ball yesterday.

 

On the other hand, Osasuna is in a very good mood and situation. There is nothing to lose and a lot to win as nobody gives a damn for us to go for the next leg. Besides, Javier Gracia's team has parked La Liga issue until next weekend when the second leg starts against Granada and the position in the classification is very comfortable ( 13th ) after two consecutive victories against direct rivals : Espanyol and Betis. The relegation posts are five points away.

The odds are against Osasuna as they have been eliminated in all the confrontations with the white team. Anyway, Osasuna players must do their best in the pitch and the non-habitual players have the opportunity to show their coach, Javier Gracia, that they can play in La Liga from the beginning. The two new players in the team, like Acuña, may be in the kickoff team, and as Andres Fernandez, the goalkeeper was sent off in Sevilla the last game in La Liga and can't play the following one, he is to play this evening for sure.

Posible kickoff teams:
Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Oier Sanjurjo, Miguel Flaño, Arribas, Joan Oriol; Puñal, Raoul; Cejudo, Torres, De las Cuevas; Acuña.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Coentrao; Illarramendi, Xabi Alonso; Jesé, Di María, Cristiano Ronaldo; Benzema.

GORA OSASUNA! AUPA ROJILLOS!

Real Madrid-Osasuna, who said fear?

Good evening, dear Osasunists! Here we are again in a  week match in Copa del Rey and the rival is the powerful Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.

Last match against Ancelotti's team was at El Sadar and the final score was very thrilling for Osasuna supporters and Real Madrid footballers had to struggle to get a point in La Liga. Therefore, there is an idea of revenge in Madrid to solve the leg at home.

There are other main issues, like always, before a match with a "weaker" rival in Madrid. Di Maria's attitude against Celta when he was substituted resulted with the anger of the supporters and his natural post will be for the "galactic" Bale. Besides, Iker Casillas is back at the goal after becoming a father, and of course there will be rotations from the kickoff team in Liga and Copa.

On the other hand, Osasuna must keep on playing their game when they are away from El Sadar and they must try to get a good score to motivate us, their supporters, to go to El Sadar with the prices the club board have established for the second leg match. It is true that the results are better away from El Sadar than at our home stadium, but in the end Real Madrid is the favourite for a winning final score.

Javi Gracia's players will be different from the last match against Espanyol too. Probably Damiá will go back to the kickoff team and Lobato, the new forward in the club is also in the list for the match.

Posible Kickoff teams:
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Modric; Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo; Jesé.
Osasuna: Riesgo; Damiá, Flaño, Oier, Joan Oriol; Silva, Puñal; Cejudo, Torres, José García; Oriol Riera.

GORA OSASUNA!AUPA ROJILLOS!
WHAT A GEM!

Osasuna-Malaga, a milestone game for Copa del Rey

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Good evening, dear Osasunists!Osasuna plays against Malaga the second round of 1/16 Copa del Rey tournament at El Sadar, after their draw (3-3) at La Rosaleda, which was a complete surprise for me when at the beginning of the second half, Osasuns was losing 3-0 and everything appeared to be lost and their participation in Copa del Rey almost over.

The confrontation against Malaga is at the best moment for Osasuna, as they also got another important result against Real Madrid on Saturday at El Sadar. But it is also true that it may be a misleading scoring because our players musn't be confident on their tiny advantage with their goals. One goal will be the difference between glory and defeat.

The game will be also historic, individually and for the club itself. The Great Captain,Patxi Puñal, is about to increase his figures in the club. The match against Malaga in Copa will be his 500th in Osasuna, a minestone in the club. On the negative side, Raoul Loe, Sisi, Nino and De las Cuevas can't play the game as the first is sanctioned and the rest are injured. Besides, the club plays the match 1000 at El Sadar this evening, another milestone.

Patxi Puñal, who has been sanctioned for a game after seeing a direct red card against Valencia, is going to play a record match this evening, but he complains that after so many years in First Divison he hasn't got much respect by the referees. He is 38 years old and has been sanctioned five times in his career, but he doesn't consider himself a rude violent player and Osasuna players either. 

Probable Kickoff teams:
Osasuna: Riesgo; Damiá, Flaño, Oier, Joan Oril; Silva, Puñal; José García, Torres, Cejudo; Manuel Onwu.
Málaga: Caballero; Gámez, Angeleri, Weligton, Antunes; Duda, Tissone, Darder, Eliseu; Portillo, Santa Cruz.

Apart from the sport issue, Osasuna is on the news because the European Commision has raised an official investigation against seven Spanish Football Clubs on illegal economical aids by the Spanish government. The CLUBS are : Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Valencia, Hércules and Elche.

We must bear in mind that Osasuna with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Athletic Club de Bilbao are the only NOT limited companies , S.A. , and they are ruled by their members and not by external companies, and they have different budget rules than the rest, therefore the UE think they may take financial advantage.

GORA OSASUNA!AUPA ROJILLOS!

Malaga-Osasuna, time for Copa del Rey

Good morning, dear Osasunists!
We are back after this long week of holidays in Navarre. And with us, football is back, but not with La Liga, the Copa del Rey starts for the teams in First Division.
Osasuna confronts Malaga, a team that brings good early memories of this season as we beat them  ( 0-1 ) in La Rosaleda last 3th October.

Javier Gracia's team get more points away than at El Sadar, so our sensations are positive for this evening match. Perhaps, some players don't like Schuster in Malaga and they may help us to go for the next leg, which may be against Real Madrid, ...or Xativa, as last night the "powerful" Mandril was beaten by voluntarious strong players in Xativa (0-0).

Osasuna's coach still has some injured players and he will play with the non-habitual players in La Liga. Apart from the long time injured Sisi, Nino, Cejudo and De Las Cuevas, the coach has decided to give time of rest to some essential players for Gracia like Marc Bertrán, Lolo and Arribas.

On the other side, Bernd Schuster, Malaga's coach, as I said, also has many injured players as Roque Santa Cruz and Mounir El Hamdaoui, Sergi Darder, Samuel, and the goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. But the most important issue for me is the real problem of Malaga, the lack of good manners in Schuster's teams and my idea that there is a bad feeling among the players and their German coach, so I have good feelings for this evening match and I hope they will come true!

GORA OSASUNA! AUPA ROJILLOS!

- Possible kickoff teams:

Málaga CF: Caballero; Gámez, Sergio Sánchez, Weligton, Antunes; Portillo, Camacho, Tissone, Darder, Eliseu; Juanmi.

Osasuna: Riesgo; Oier, Flaño, Loties, Satrústegui; Puñal, Raoul Loe, Torres; Silva, Ariel Núñez, Manuel.

Osasuna-Barça, a game in the fog

Good evening, dear Osasunists and Happy New Year for all! Tonight, if the weather forecast let us watch it, we can enjoy the second leg of the 1/8 round of La Copa del Rey at the El Sadar stadium ( you know I don't like the other name and I think the sponsorship is over now??? ). I know it is the third game Osasuna play in this New Year 2012. And there is for everyone! Good news in La Liga- Osasuna is still in European positions after the draw against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian-Donosti last weekend. But, on the other hand, the first leg of tonight's match was a complete disappointing moment for all us, as Barça players defeated Osasuna's very clearly on the 4th January at Nou Camp stadium. There were two players, Cesc and Messi, who ruined our expectations for a competing game in Pamplona. Osasuna didn't play badly that night. It is true they didn't disturb or get Valdes into trouble, but they made the victory of Barça difficult and a shorter result could have made Guardiola think of using his best team in Pamplona. But it is complicated now as last week result ( 4-0 ) makes impossible or a miracle to reach 1/4 final legs. There are two main attractive points to "watch" the game. First, we'll try to distinguish players in the fog, if it lets the game start. At the time I'm writing the article, it seems the game will be played. The second attraction is the young players who will play it. There will be players from the "cantera" teams in both sides. That is something I will always support and I critized from previous coaches. I heard on the radio that it was in Ziganda's time the last time that there were so many players from Navarra in the kickoff team. This is one of my topics for this article, apart from the match itself, of course. It was last Saturday, on the 7th January, in the papers: Michael Robinson signed for Osasuna! That was 25 years ago, but apart from Jan Urban, Michael was the best foreign footballer who has ever played for Osasuna. That must be the club policy for the search and seek of players for Osasuna. If there are similar players in the club as in the market we should support our young players. It is a waste of time and money, overall, and it disappoints us, the supporters. I understand Mendilibar's plans. La Liga is more important now, and it is not an idea of disliking La Copa, but at the same time he may see other future players in a competitive game. He will need Andrés, Sergio, Timor, Ibra or Nino for the game on Sunday against Santander. There are also some injured players: Echaide, Rubén, Rovérsio, Damià, Raitala, Masoud or Kike Sola ( a lot, by the way ). Besides, Satrustegi and Roberto Torres are almost of the main team, and it is a good moment to see the new gig of Osasuna: Raoul Cedric Loe. Pep Guardiola, the best coach in the world, is also more worried about La Liga, overall after the draw in Barcelona in the derby against Espanyol. So he left in that capital some good players like Iniesta, Valdes or Alves, and it is almost impossible to see Messi, Xavi or Cesc in his kickoff team. CA Osasuna: Riesgo; Marc Bertrán, Lolo, Miguel Flaño, Satrustegi; Puñal, Raoul; Álvaro Cejudo, Roberto Torres, Calleja; and Leka. FC Barcelona: Pinto; Montoya, Mascherano, Piqué, Abidal; Thiago, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto; Isaac Cuenca, Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro.

Osasuna-Almeria, last game before Christmas

Almeria and Osasuna are playing their second match in a week for the Copa del Rey competition. It's a game with different viewpoints in their supporters, as Osasuna is almost classified after the match last week.

That is the atmosphere in Pamplona as some players are already in their countries, on Christmas holidays. Therefore, there will be changes in the kickoff team. On the other hand, Almeria C.F. is going to do their best at the Reyno de Navarra stadium so they want to be in the next leg of the competition.

Osasuna don't have to take in advance their clasiffication, though their position in the League and the results in their last five games may give confidence to their players and supporters. We are fifth and the UEFA dream is in our minds.

Mendilibar said that he isn't on holidays yet. Let's see! His words are not always seen as wit as expected, but Osasuna supporters want to keep their hopes at Christmas and see another final in May 2012! That is my desire for Olentzero, Father Christmas or the Three Wise Men!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FOR ALL YOU! HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR OSASUNA SUPPORTERS!

Almeria-Osasuna, the K.O. Championship starts

Good evening, dear Osasunists! Tonight Osasuna begins their route towards a desired final at Santiago Bernabeu stadium ( or Vicente Calderon ) in April 2012. Their first rival is a now Second Division team: Almeria C.F.

Mendilibar's team is playing very well in the League and we must make a profit of that lucky good moment to forget last year early elimination against Deportivo de La Coruña.

It's also a good moment to try with different players as the usual ones and give some minutes to previously injured. Nekounam, Damiá may have a good opportunity to show their coach that they might play at the weekend.

On the other hand, Almería C.F. have already played two games in this championship. They are on the top positions of the Second Division League ( they are 6th ), but they haven't won their last consecutive five matches.

Kickoff teams:
Almería: Diego García; Rafita, Marcelo Silva, Acasiete, Dani Bautista; Verza, Soriano, Benardello; Aarón, Goitom y Omar.
Osasuna: Asier Riesgo; Damià, Roversio, Miguel Flaño,Satrústegui; Nekounam, Timor; Cejudo, Roberto Torres, Annunziata; y Lekic.

Gora Osasuna!Aupa Rojillos!

Depor-Osasuna, the second leg tie of 1/16 Copa del Rey

Good evening, dear Osasunists! We are here in another week game! How long will it last this "stressful" situation for Camacho's players? It might be the last game in the week, as Osasuna is playing against Deportivo in La Coruña, at their Riazor stadium.

When Lotina's team visited Pamplona for the first leg last 28th October, they were in a very delicated position in the Spanish League and our beloved ex-Osasuna coach was about to be fired out. After the confrontation at Reyno de Navarra stadium they got a worthy draw (1-1) for Copa del Rey.

Osasuna and Depor have played some other games in La Liga and Depor is only two points below Osasuna ( 12 against 14), and the Navarrians won a game more than the Galicians ( 3 won games against 2 ).

But tonight we are talking about another competition: the K.O. Championship, Copa del Rey. Deportivo de La Coruña is in a better situation than Osasuna, though Camacho has said that the leg is balanced and 50% for each side. Osasuna is obligated to score or to win the match to get the next leg.

Taking into account the above comments and facts, the match is obviously very attractive, not only for both team supporters, but, I think, it is also interesting for any football supporter, as I believe it will be a very disputated confrontation. And what are the TV channels doing?

I don't understand that there are so many TV channels now in the TDT, the ppv system ( Canal+, ONO, GOL TV, etc ), regional and local TV channels,... and no one TV channel is going to broadcast this match on live. They still broadcast and programme matches with so little expectations like Real Madrid or Barça legs.

Posible kickoff teams
Deportivo de La Coruña: Manu; Seoane or Manuel Pablo, Colotto, Rochela, Zé Castro, Morel; Juca, Juan Domínguez; Pablo Álvarez, Desmarets; Lassad.

Osasuna: Riesgo; Nelson, Sergio, Josetxo, Monreal; Juanfran, Lolo, Nekounam, Calleja; Vadocz and Lekic.

Referee: Fernández Borbalán (Andalusian) Stadium: Riazor. Time: 21h.

TV: NONE.
GORA OSASUNA!AUPA OSASUNISTS!

Osasuna-Racing, an unbearable reminder

Hi, there! Today we are playing against Racing de Santander, the same rival which took Osasuna away from the quarter finals of Copa del Rey.

It was on 27 January, and then I remember I was talking about the idea of forgetting the League and put any effort on the match against Racing to win the passport to semifinals, probably against Atletico de Madrid, which in the end is one of the finalists in the Copa del Rey.

So, now that the dream is over for both teams, Osasuna and Racing must look for other kind of motivation. For Osasuna the match of this evening may be the match of revenge, sue to that former mentioned elimination in Copa del Rey. It's a good reason, then, to go to Reyno de Navarra stadium; but there is also another reason: the points gathered after five matches in League: only two out of 15 points!!

Therefore Osasuna must win this game too. We were talking about looking up in the League classification two months ago, and after the elimination in Copa del Rey and the lack of victories in the League are getting us, the supporters, nervous as we see that our prosecutors in the championship are winning their matches, as they are more concentrated on their games, and Osasuna players are losing their matches and opportunities to make sure they will be in First Division next season and then searching for other targets like Europe.

Let's see what happens this afternoon, but Osasuna killers, I mean forwards like Pandiani and Aranda are injured, and Camacho is going to use a new attack: Galan and Camuñas. The first one must show that the future is in Tajonar too and Izco mustn't visit abroad Leagues to find a new killer for next year.

Probable kickoff teams:
Osasuna: Roberto, Josetxo, Flaño, Azpilicueta, Monreal, Puñal, Nekounam, Juanfran, Masoud, Camuñas and J. Galán.

Racing: Coltorti, Moratón, Oriol, Pinillos, Christian, Diop, Colsa, T. Moral, Munitis, Canales and Tchité.

The match starts at 17:00 and the referee is González González.

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Osasuna's dream is 90 minutes away

TODAY IS THE DAY! Everybody has heard about the famous "D" Day in II World War, the most important day in the last global war finished 65 years ago ( I'll talk about it soon ), and this is Osasuna's "D" Day this season!

Our dream may become true in 90 minutes ( if there isn't extra time ) and Osasuna is in the way to repeat another semifinal after five years, in 2005 previous to the famous final at Vicente Calderón against Betis F.C., BUT OUR PLAYERS NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP, WE, THE INCONDITIONAL SUPPORTERS!!!

The match starts at 8.00 p.m. and during this week we have been thinking of that time while most of us were doing our daily duties at home, at the office or anywhere. Each of us have our own differnt kickoff team, but only Camacho is in charge of it, as Izco, Osasuna's chairman, remembered on Tuesday, but an intelligent coach knows that League is safe at the moment and the best players in Osasuna must play this game against Racing Santander, and , this is my opinion, it might not be any critics if there is a second team in Villareal on Sunday.

Analizing Osasuna's figures of the first half of the League just finished, we may conclude that Osasuna ended with 10 more points than last year ; and even though there are only six points from relegation posts- ( Tenerife 17 ) -, these six points are enough to win a League ( see Barça and Madrid ) or keep our status in first division. Osasuna has got 23 points, surprisingly, the same as Racing and Atletico de Madrid, today and our next possible rivals. Therefore, dream can become true with a bit of effort!!

Let's talk about the match of this evening! Osasuna starts the game with 1-2, so they need to score, but without any hurry at all! We must bear in mind that Racing scored 5 more goals in League than Osasuna, but their goalkeeper received six more goals than Ricardo o Roberto in Osasuna. In my opinion, their weaker line is defense, the opposite to Osasuna and persistence must be our goal this evening! And OSASUNA SUPPORTERS HELP IS MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER!!

GORA OSASUNA! AUPA ROJILLOS!

Canales vs Galar

Here we are again! Football on a week night! What an awasome feeling! These nights are over in powerful pitches as Bernabeu or Camp Nou, but tonight two modest teams, Racing and Osasuna are playing for a place in Semifinals in Copa del Rey. The league will be another day, on Sunday, but it's aanother story too. There are different players and different ambitions: Could it be another way to Europe? It's a dream for teams in Santander or Pamplona. Why not?

Osasuna has been in similar situations recently (finalist in 2005, semifinalist in 2003 and 1/4 finalist in 2007) and who knows if the season 2009-10 could be a good year for the Navarrian team history. As I said last week there are great expectations in Osasuna supporters and we may stay calm when we can read in the newspapers some headings like "we are four matches from our next Final", because it reminds me some fairy tales as the one called " El cuento de la lechera".

Reality starts tonight at El Sardinero against a very similar team to Osasuna. Racing have got the same amount of points in la Liga as Osasuna (20). The match score against Osasuna in the League was (1-1)- a very good result in Copa matches. Therefore, if Osasuna players keep concentrated from the very beginning of the confrontation, there will be more chance to get semifinals in Pamplona in the second leg.

Camacho is stubborn in his ideas and mantains the Copa team, different from the one which defeated Espanyol last Saturday in just 10 minutes. Previously there were some comments from the coach which may encouraged his players ( if players don't kick the ball towards the rival goal, it's imposible to score. There must be confidence on the players. ). And Camacho is right, of course, and Osasuna supporters want our players play their best in this kind of games where some of our dreams could come in true.

If we have a look to the route both teams have followed until their confrontation we may see that Osasuna eliminated Xerez, last in the First Division, and Hercules, First in the Second Division. Meanwhile, Racing got rid of Salamanca, a former good team but with no direction in Second division now, and the so-called "matagigantes" Alcorcón.

Last time Racing and Osasuna played in Copa was 12 years ago. Only four players are in their teams now: Josetxo and Puñal in Osasuna and Munitis and Colsa in Racing. But everybody will keep their eyes on a media player today: the young Canales in Racing. It is said that very powerful teams in Europe want him, and that Real Madrid is the first in that list. Last week he scored a nice goal and it's expected that Osasuna defenders will be careful and vigilant on him.

On the other hand, Osasuna will play with another young forward: Galar. He is as young as Canales, but our expectations are lower though I think he'll be a good value for Osasuna future in the next five years. He may need more chances to play in the first team and Camacho's confidence. We'll see who wins this confrontation: Canales vs Galar!

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Osasuna-Hercules: to be or not to be

Tonight game is the second leg for 1/8 Final of Copa del Rey at the Reyno de Navarra stadium. The match is against Hercules F.C., in theory, a second division team, but is that a real confrontation? Is a match between different division teams? Which are of second division?

After last week match against Deportivo La Coruña, Osasuna supporters are quite angry with our players, Camacho alike. Everybody knows what type of team we are following, but any player who is wearing the red shirt must know the skills they have to bear.

The main reason of our anger is the lack of ambition after the match against Real Madrid. It happened the same after Barça's match. During those two teams every player is concentrated and for some moments in the confrontation we may think that Osasuna players are able to fight for Champion positions, but...

Reality is hard! The concentration and struggle is over and everybody is relaxed and the meaning of Osasuna ( strength ) is gone away in the players mentality. We, as supporters, know that UEFA positions and possibilities through the League competition is almost imposible, but there are otherways to go to Europe, and our hatred Bilbao is a good example: Copa del Rey.

Osasuna supporters are ambitious and have a dream for this year: another final in Madrid and it may be possible this year, but....We need the players, we need their motivation, we need their effort, we need their strenght,....we can't get dressed in red shirt and blue shorts and play, though I think we may, at least, run more than some footballers sometimes.

Anyway and to sum up this is like the famous Shakespeare's play: Hamlet. The famous "to be or not to be", which means that the game tonight is essential for Osasuna supporters this season, as it's the only opportunity to keep our expectations on our team and our players, as we know the only motivation for us in the League is the survival, not a very motivating goal.

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!

Hercules-Osasuna, a gift after Christmas

José Antonio Camacho will change the kickoff team for the match today at Rico Perez stadium. It is said that the season calendar is stressful for footballers and they need to rest, overall after efforts like last weekend against Real Madrid and the await for the confrontation against Deportivo La Coruña on Sunday.

There will be nine new players on the pitch for Osasuna, and only Roversio and Monreal will play again, so players with few minutes this season can show, not only to Camacho but also to us, the supporters, they are ready to compete anywhere and are good value. We Know that on the other side, the other team is Portillo, a relegated played for Camacho. Good luck, Portillo!

Roberto, Echaide, Vadocz, Rúper, Calleja, Dady, Galán. Josetxo and Masoud and the couple above will be the kickoff team today. It's a competitive team, similar to the one which defeated Xerez last leg, and players must show the differences between both categories and the motivation that I, for instance, heard to some players on the Basque tv: another final in La Copa del Rey, as Puñal said.

There has been surprises in the first matches of this leg like the victory of Sevilla F.C. in Barcelona or the defeat of Valencia F.C. against our next team to confront, Deportivo, as you see a difficult team to play. So, it's a good opportunity to reach far, as I said in another article. Besides, Hercules F.C. is another club that has other aims this season. Its main objective is to promote to first division, so there will be many changes tonight in their initial team and Osasuna may take a profit from that feature.

Everything will be different at the Reyno anyway, but a good result tonight will keep the chances for Osasuna clear if we continue with the motivation against Real Madrid.

Gora Osasuna! Aupa Rojillos!