Spanish Primera Liga 2009
Barcelona
vs
Osasuna
Match Schedule:
Date: October 31th
Time: 18:00 (GMT)
Barcelona
vs
Osasuna
Match Schedule:
Date: October 31th
Time: 18:00 (GMT)
Back From The Brink
After surviving relegation last season, Jose Antonio Camacho's side look more like the Osasuna of old and can be pretty pleased with how their season has gone so far. They go into this game with just one defeat in six games and will, as always, be ready for a fixture they have faired relatively well in down the years.
Since their promotion to the Primera Division in 2000, Osasuna have established themselves as a tricky opponent for even the best sides in Spanish football. Against Barcelona have a record of four wins, five draws and nine defeats in those nine seasons. However, it's their form against the smaller sides that so often lets them down.
In fact, their conclusion to last season's campaign typifies their existence as a Primera Liga side. With three games to go, Osasuna needed to pull off a miracle to avoid relegation but did so, drawing with Sevilla before beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to secure their top flight status. That kind of miraculous recovery makes you wonder what they were doing in the relegation spots in the first place.
Camacho's side don't concede many goals at home and so far only Sevilla have managed a win in Pamplona this season. However, the hosts know it will take their best performance of the term to take anything from this game against the champions.
Championship Credentials
The trip to the Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona has proved a worthy examination for Barcelona in recent years and here begins a testing series of games for Barca between now and the end of November. This sequence culminates in home ties against Inter and Real Madrid, so now is not the time to slip up.
On recent form there is no reason why they should falter. Guardiola's side laughed off suggestions of a 'crisis' after a draw away to Valencia and a home defeat to Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Champions League. They came out against Real Zaragoza intent on proving that this team is by no means finished. That 6-1 demolition job last time out in the Primera Liga was as an emphatic dismissal of any hint of even the smallest crisis.
Wins in games like this tie against a tenacious, physical Osasuna side are what make champions, and Barca will go there with the same mentality as always, looking to attack from the first minute, creating chances and trying to win. Three points may not come this weekend but once the intent and the hunger is there Guardiola will not be disappointed. He knows that if his team continue to demonstrate the necessary desire, their sheer talent will take care of the rest nine times out of ten.
The defeat to Rubin was by no means a wake up call, but it probably will make the Blaugrana a little more clinical in front of goal. The win over Zaragoza quelled any suggestion of them becoming nervous so, with injuries abating, there is little else other than a strong resolve and a near perfect display from their opponents stopping Barca winning here.
FORM GUIDE
Osasuna
Oct 28 Xerez 1-2 Osasuna (Copa del Rey)
Oct 25 Racing Santander 1-1 Osasuna (La Liga)
Oct 18 Osasuna 3-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Oct 4 Getafe 2-1 Osasuna (La Liga)
Sept 27 Osasuna 1-0 Sporting Gijon (La Liga)
Barcelona
Oct 28 Cultural Leonesa 0-2 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
Oct 25 Barcelona 6-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan (UEFA Champions League)
Oct 17 Valencia 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 3 Barcelona 1-0 Almeria (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Osasuna
Jose Antonio Camacho has no injuries to worry about going into this game.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ricardo – Monreal, Josetxo, Miguel Flano, Azpilicueta – Camunas, Nekounam, Punal, Juanfran – Aranda, Pandiani.
Barcelona
Thierry Henry may be fit and Pedro amongst the goals, but Andres Iniesta may start wide left to add a little extra to the Barca midfield in a game that will be won and lost in this area of the pitch. Those rested in the Copa del Rey should be fresh and raring to go.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Puyol, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Busquets – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Osasuna
Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani has been in lethal form so far this season with six goals in the league, just one behind Pichichi leaders Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa. He has scored in his last two attempts against Barca, including a winner at Camp Nou.
Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proved all doubters wrong with his prolific start to his time at Camp Nou. The Pichichi leader gives Barca that added physical presence up front to ease pressure on the rest of his team.
PREDICTION
These games are always tight and Barcelona have not won by more than a goal in Pamplona in nine league attempts. This may be one of those rare occasions when the champions drop points.
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona
Since their promotion to the Primera Division in 2000, Osasuna have established themselves as a tricky opponent for even the best sides in Spanish football. Against Barcelona have a record of four wins, five draws and nine defeats in those nine seasons. However, it's their form against the smaller sides that so often lets them down.
In fact, their conclusion to last season's campaign typifies their existence as a Primera Liga side. With three games to go, Osasuna needed to pull off a miracle to avoid relegation but did so, drawing with Sevilla before beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to secure their top flight status. That kind of miraculous recovery makes you wonder what they were doing in the relegation spots in the first place.
Camacho's side don't concede many goals at home and so far only Sevilla have managed a win in Pamplona this season. However, the hosts know it will take their best performance of the term to take anything from this game against the champions.
Championship Credentials
The trip to the Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona has proved a worthy examination for Barcelona in recent years and here begins a testing series of games for Barca between now and the end of November. This sequence culminates in home ties against Inter and Real Madrid, so now is not the time to slip up.
On recent form there is no reason why they should falter. Guardiola's side laughed off suggestions of a 'crisis' after a draw away to Valencia and a home defeat to Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Champions League. They came out against Real Zaragoza intent on proving that this team is by no means finished. That 6-1 demolition job last time out in the Primera Liga was as an emphatic dismissal of any hint of even the smallest crisis.
Wins in games like this tie against a tenacious, physical Osasuna side are what make champions, and Barca will go there with the same mentality as always, looking to attack from the first minute, creating chances and trying to win. Three points may not come this weekend but once the intent and the hunger is there Guardiola will not be disappointed. He knows that if his team continue to demonstrate the necessary desire, their sheer talent will take care of the rest nine times out of ten.
The defeat to Rubin was by no means a wake up call, but it probably will make the Blaugrana a little more clinical in front of goal. The win over Zaragoza quelled any suggestion of them becoming nervous so, with injuries abating, there is little else other than a strong resolve and a near perfect display from their opponents stopping Barca winning here.
FORM GUIDE
Osasuna
Oct 28 Xerez 1-2 Osasuna (Copa del Rey)
Oct 25 Racing Santander 1-1 Osasuna (La Liga)
Oct 18 Osasuna 3-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Oct 4 Getafe 2-1 Osasuna (La Liga)
Sept 27 Osasuna 1-0 Sporting Gijon (La Liga)
Barcelona
Oct 28 Cultural Leonesa 0-2 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
Oct 25 Barcelona 6-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan (UEFA Champions League)
Oct 17 Valencia 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 3 Barcelona 1-0 Almeria (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Osasuna
Jose Antonio Camacho has no injuries to worry about going into this game.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ricardo – Monreal, Josetxo, Miguel Flano, Azpilicueta – Camunas, Nekounam, Punal, Juanfran – Aranda, Pandiani.
Barcelona
Thierry Henry may be fit and Pedro amongst the goals, but Andres Iniesta may start wide left to add a little extra to the Barca midfield in a game that will be won and lost in this area of the pitch. Those rested in the Copa del Rey should be fresh and raring to go.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Puyol, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Busquets – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Osasuna
Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani has been in lethal form so far this season with six goals in the league, just one behind Pichichi leaders Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa. He has scored in his last two attempts against Barca, including a winner at Camp Nou.
Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proved all doubters wrong with his prolific start to his time at Camp Nou. The Pichichi leader gives Barca that added physical presence up front to ease pressure on the rest of his team.
PREDICTION
These games are always tight and Barcelona have not won by more than a goal in Pamplona in nine league attempts. This may be one of those rare occasions when the champions drop points.
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona
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