Runnin’ With Los Rojillos

By: Al | November 8th, 2008

Osasuna vs. Atlético Madrid

We travel to Pamplona to face last-place Osasuna tomorrow. We’re slowly picking ourselves up and want to gain momentum in La Liga as soon as possible. Our mid-week performance against Liverpool was impressive (and maybe a bit lucky, for both teams) and now that we have this monster of a match out of the way, we have plenty of confidence to start cranking some results in domestic play.

No, I couldn’t have posted a more random or irrelevant picture. (If anyone has good photoshop skills, I would love to see an image of Maniche flying above the Calderon). Awkward Maniche photo of the month right there.

How Things Stand:

We’re 9 points from leaders Barcelona, who don’t look to be losing points any time soon. Aside from some tricky fixtures against Racing Santander, Valencia and other teams, we can feel relieved that we don’t have too many tricky fixtures until 2009. We should concentrate on getting a solid place in the League by the time Xmas is rolling and should also concentrate on defeating PSV later this month and snagging our ticket to the round of 16. Part 2 of the season is nigh.

Currently injured are Seitaridis, Antonio Lopez, and Sinama. Ujfalusi and Coupet will make their grand return and are clear for the match.

Aguirre has told the press that Kun Aguero will be in the starting XI, which will be helpful for the match, and Forlan and Kun are like peanut butter and jelly (or beans and toast, if you prefer that analogy). To hell with all the people complaining about his substitution role. I despise hype over a single player.

Manager Javier Aguirre will be returning to his first European home, where he coached Osasuna from 2002-2006. Both him and Osasuna coach José Antonio Camacho have run into each other in La Liga in the 80’s as players, and as coaches for Mexico and Spain respectively.

Full roster from the official site:

PORTEROS
1 Coupet.
25 Leo Franco.
27 Bernabé.

DEFENSAS
4 Pernía.
5 Heitinga.
17 Ujfalusi.
21 Perea.
22 Pablo Ibáñez.

CENTROCAMPISTAS
8 Raúl García.
9 Luis García.
11 Maxi Rodríguez.
12 Paulo Assunção.
16 Éver Banega.
18 Maniche.
19 Miguel de las Cuevas.
20 Simão.
24 Nacho Camacho.

DELANTEROS
7 Forlán.
10 Kun Agüero.

Confirmed XI:

Leo Franco – Perea, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernía – Paulo Assunção, Maniche, Maxi, Simão – Forlán, Kun Agüero.

In other words, a near-perfect starting lineup.

Osasuna:

Osasuna are currently the Tottenham of La Liga. They have only 4 points (four draws and five losses) and don’t look like a threat at all. Thanks to the incredible unpredictability of La Liga, this doesn’t mean that this game will be a slide. Osasuna barely scraped through relegation last season and probably don’t want to succumb to the same scenario all over again. What better way to turn around a season than defeating the almighty Atlético Madrid?

Osasuna’s goalscorers so far in the season? Kike Sola, Javier Portillo, and Santi Ezquerro (ex-Barca). Also, Osasuna have scored only once in the past 638 minutes (thanks As.com for that nugget of info). Unfortunately, there isn’t an active Osasuna Offside (someone start one) in which I can skim through and learn about certain players, so my knowledge on this team is miniscule.

When we visited Osasuna last season, they finished us off 3-1. Can they match that result? Dream on. (My cocky side talking once again). However, Camacho is a coach of credentials so if he does something right, they can pull a result with the right cards.

Prediction: 0-3. Another blowout by Atleti. As Atletico have proved so far in the season, there are either really good days, or truly shite days (or a mix of both as seen in the Villarreal match). We’re way past our rut after losing the derby (grrr) and our confidence is growing quickly. There’s nothing to lose!

Aupa Atleti!