Osasuna snatched the European place from Athletic

Osasuna presented its candidacy for a European place after defeating and snatching seventh place in the standings from a weak Athletic. The rojillos know how to play their tricks from start to finish against a willing but unable opponent. Budimir and Lucas Torró signed the goals of Navarrese victory.

Both Arrasate and Valverde opted to replace the goalkeeper for this crucial match. Aitor Fernández knew how to rise to the occasion by preventing the lions from leading the scoreboard and even drawing after 1-0. Agirrezabala was not lucky in the action that allowed Navarrese to open the scoring.

The locals made a move on the people of Bilbao. They escaped again and left a rojiblanco team that was preparing everything to establish itself in the European zone, but missed a great opportunity to do so and was no longer dependent on itself.

Arrasate face Athletic’s visit with three changes compared to the starting eleven that just lost to Atlético de Madrid. Aitor Fernández thus worked under the sticks at the expense of Sergio Herrera and Kike Barja and Abde came in on the wingers for Rubén García and Chimy Ávila. Moncayola, unlike in the Cup when he was deployed as a right back, played in the middle of the field, the area where he performs best.

Valverde, with sensitive defeats to begin with, also faced decisive stakes with a change under the sticks. Thus Agirrezabala occupied the position of Unai Simón. The other two variations from Bilbao came from the double pivot, where Zarraga and Vesga came on to replace Sancet, who didn’t have a good night, and Dani García, respectively.

The importance and significance of the points at stake became clear from the exact moment the ball started rolling at El Sadar. Both contenders applied themselves to the battle, leaving little room for the football to flow. There was a lot of shock, a lot of pressure and great intensity all over the field. Goal chances, in this way, were conspicuous by their absence in the first half.

The two lightest are in charge of the lions. Iñaki Williams, who initially called for Rubén Peña’s hand when VAR did not award any penalty, starred in both, but both the Rojilla defense and Aitor Fernández responded. Agirrezabala, however, hardly had to intervene throughout the contested and hard-fought first half.

Osasuna started the second half in disarray and it took barely five minutes for them to find reward for their determined start. Budimir headed a lateral cross between two Athletic centre-backs and Agirrezabala reacted poorly and at the wrong time. Zarraga immediately tied his boots, but was again stopped by Aitor Fernández.

Valverde looked for solutions on the bench giving simultaneous input to Sancet and Guruzeta. The lions, out of necessity, took a step forward against a Navarrese team that knew how to retreat and find their counterattack options. The bet on the rojilla paid off after a free kick on the post by Abde that ended with Lucas Torró. The locals knew how to keep the advantage until the final whistle against an Athletic who lost in seventh position and the particular average goal.