Laround the corner Manu Sanchezafter sanction, and Coteafter an indisposition that prevented him from being a starter on the last day, are the two novelties of the call with which Osasuna visit to Athletic Bilbao. A citation that does not appear lucas torr, the most important player in the red midfield. The man from Alicante was already a substitute against Getafe and rest in Saint Mams where a very different eleven is glimpsed with respect to the last league commitment: “There will be changes again with the same idea of being competitive and having options to win”, indicated the rojillo coach, Jagoba Arrasatein the pre-match.
The Biscayan master will introduce numerous changes to ‘refresh’ the team in the twilight of the campaign with four games in two weeks. In addition, the rival ‘forces’ the players to squeeze themselves to the maximum to get something positive out of Bilbao: “It is a team that prints a lot of rhythm and demands a lot from you. be a back and forth match. We expect the best Athletic where they are a very powerful team at home”, stressed an Arrasate who recalled that the Biscayans still have European options: “Athetic is one of the best teams in the League in many parameters. If it is not higher, it is due to the lack of efficacy. They still have options to go to Europe and that means winning tomorrow. For this reason, we are going to find a powerful Athletic. It’s their last game at home and they have options”, stressed the master of the Navarrese team.
Osasuna has any chance of reaching the eighth place that precisely occupies his opponent this Sunday. However, at the club they see it as very complicated and they focus on keeping ninth place. However, the prevailing rivalry between the two is enough of an incentive for this penultimate red game this season: “We have encouragement. It is a derby in a great stadium and against a great rival. We know that it is special for our hobby; beyond that we play more or less. Winning will be a great joy for everyone. Let’s think about that”, explained the Basque.
The one in San Mamés is the last game that Osasuna plays as a visitor in a season in which the rojillos have scored more points away from El Sadar than in their own stadium: “Getting so many points away from home speaks of the performance of the team, which has been comfortable away from home, has been competitive and has found its best version. It may be because the home team takes more risks and initiative and that game is going better,” Arrasate pointed out. Not in vain, the rojillos are the sixth best visitor by adding 25 points in 18 games and the seventeenth local with 22 in those same games.
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