Jagoba Arrasate has returned as head coach of Club Atlético Osasuna following the dismissal of Luis Miguel Ramis. The change comes after a 5-2 defeat to Real Betis last weekend, a result that left the Navarrese side 16th in LaLiga with just 8 points from eight games.
Arrasate, who previously managed the club from 2018 to 2023, faces the immediate task of shoring up a defence that has conceded 18 goals this season. His first match in charge is this Saturday at El Sadar against Racing Santander, a direct rival sitting in 15th place. Striker Ante Budimir, the team's top scorer with 6 goals, will be a key figure in the hunt for three points. The team has gone 450 minutes without scoring a goal in LaLiga, a drought Arrasate must end immediately.
Doubts for the lineup
The squad for the match will be affected by several fitness concerns. Romain Del Castillo and Aimar Oroz are doubts for medical reasons, according to the club's report. Meanwhile, Racing could be without Matteo Prati, who sustained a head injury in their last outing.
Visiting manager José Alberto López Menéndez has confirmed his team will line up in a "4-1-4-1". Arrasate, for his part, has opted for a "4-4-2" for his comeback. Osasuna urgently needs points to improve their position in the standings, where they trail the leaders by 16 points. Following the match against Racing, the next league fixture is a difficult trip to the Metropolitano stadium to face Atlético de Madrid.
The team is on a five-match winless run in the league, with one draw and four defeats. This start is their worst after eight matchdays since the 2016/17 season, which ended in relegation. Their last league victory was a 2-0 win over this same opponent in a pre-season friendly last July. The full squad, featuring numbers like Budimir's 17 and Lucas Torró's 6, aims to respond in front of their home fans.
First reported at as.com
