Club Atlético Osasuna suffered their first defeat of the 2026-27 season with a heavy 5-2 loss against Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorroza. Manager Luis Miguel Ramis was blunt in his analysis, criticising his team's serious defensive errors in a match that could have consequences for the team's momentum.
The defeat leaves Osasuna in eighth place in La Liga EA Sports, with 7 points from four games and a record of two wins, one draw, and one loss. The Navarrese side has scored 5 goals and conceded 6, resulting in a negative goal difference of -1. They also trail league leaders Barcelona by 5 points.
What went wrong with Osasuna's defence?
Luis Miguel Ramis did not mince his words when assessing his team's defensive performance. "It was not a good match in terms of area defence and many more things followed," stated the coach. Ramis detailed each of the goals conceded, starting with the first, which came from what he described as "a very simple action by the opponent". Regarding the second goal, the manager pointed out it was an error that doesn't normally happen to an experienced defender like Alejandro Catena.
The third goal, a 'worldie' from a corner, happened due to a lack of pressure, according to Ramis's analysis. The coach also mentioned two poor defences of crosses from the flanks that ended in goals. A striking detail was that goalkeeper Sergio Herrera did not intervene in any of the actions that resulted in goals, as the finishes were of great difficulty. Ramis admitted they hadn't seen anything like it before and the team needs to reflect to correct these mistakes immediately.
How do injuries affect the squad?
The situation in the medical room complicates matters further for Ramis. Key midfielder Aimar Oroz missed the game in Vitoria due to a muscular problem picked up in the match against Getafe. He is not alone on the injury list. Jorge Herrando and French full-back Valentín Rosier, who made 30 La Liga appearances last season, are also in the club's treatment room. These absences limit the manager's options for rotation and finding solutions in defence, an area that has shown clear weaknesses. Fans can follow the squad's status on our injuries page.
What's next for Osasuna?
The schedule offers no respite and the reaction must be immediate. This Saturday, Osasuna host Espanyol at El Sadar. The Catalan side currently sits in eleventh place, making it a direct duel for positions in the middle of the standings. It's a perfect opportunity to restore pride and pick up points at home again.
But the agenda gets tougher afterwards. On Wednesday, 16 September, Los Rojillos will visit the Metropolitano to face Atlético de Madrid. Three days later, on 19 September, they return to El Sadar to take on Rayo Vallecano. It's a run of fixtures that will test the squad's depth and Ramis's ability to fix the defensive course. All the planning for this busy schedule can be checked on our fixtures calendar.
The team's overall performance, with 7 points from 4 games, shows the foundation is solid but defensive consistency is the main hurdle. Correcting the errors seen at Mendizorroza is not an option but an urgent necessity to maintain European aspirations. The first test is this Saturday at 18:30 at El Sadar against Espanyol.
