Athletic today closes its league tour at San Mamés for this season. The lions, with hardly any European options after their stumble in Granada, receive a visit from Osasuna who, once they have done their homework in the regular tournament, speed up their chances of overtaking the Bilbao team in the table. The rojillos, yes, have it even more complicated than the rojiblancos, since they are five points away, one more than Marcelino’s with respect to Villarreal, with six to play, although they depend on themselves to reach the last day of the championship only two below the locals.
This clash will begin at 7:30 p.m. The arbitration will be carried out by the Galician Jorge Figueroa Vázquez with David Medié Jiménez in the VAR. This meeting will be the last to be chaired by Aitor Elizegi from the San Mamés box and very likely to be led by the Asturian coach from the Bilbao bench.
Probable alignments in Athletic-Osasuna
Go ahead that Athletic has never beaten Osasuna in the new San Mamés. The last local victory of the lions over the Navarrese dates from the second day of the 2013-14 season. That time Valverde’s pupils beat Mendilibar’s men 2-0, but that match was held in Anoeta given the latest construction works that were being carried out in the ‘rojiblanco’ stadium.
The three subsequent league visits by the rojillos to Bilbao resulted in an away victory (2019-20) and two draws (2016-17 and 2020-21). The Navarrese team, of course, missed the San Mamés derby during the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18 and 2018-19 leagues as they found themselves in the Second Division.
season closing
Marcelino faces this latest home match with the additions of De Marcos, Yeray, Nuñez and Capa, all of whom were absent last Tuesday in Granada due to physical problems, and Vesga’s withdrawal due to suspension. Athletic has the chance to close the league campaign with more wins than draws and losses at home. The lions have so far thirteen wins at home, as many draws and a dozen lost commitments. Of the 52 points that appear in their locker, 31 have been achieved in front of their fans.
Osasuna, according to the results obtained during the current edition of the so-called regularity tournament, is better at packing than acting as hosts at El Sadar. The rojillos, ninth in the table, have added 25 of the 47 points they currently accumulate in the League away from home. His baggage away from his field is seven wins, as many losses and four draws.
Their last defeat away from home dates back to April 3 when they fell 4-1 against Betis at Villamarín. From there they beat Valencia at Mestalla by 1-2 and drew one to one both at Elche and Espanyol. Arrasate, who recently renewed as coach of Osasuna until June 30, 2024, counts for this clash with the loss of Lucas Torró.
San Mamés, in short, lowers the league curtain today without being able to celebrate a European qualification and with an electoral process for the club’s presidency just around the corner. The name of Moncayola, the Osasuna midfielder, sounds again in the rojiblancos circles as one of the first objectives of the two candidates who aspire to Ibaigane’s chair. Everything is for the vote.