CA Osasuna players gathered this week at the Casa Zanito restaurant in Olite to strengthen squad unity ahead of Sunday's match against Deportivo Alavés. The meeting, which included figures like Alejandro Catena, Iker Muñoz, Aimar Oroz, and Sergio Herrera, aimed to consolidate the team's strong start to the season, having taken seven points from a possible nine. The match will be played this September 6th at 18:30 at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria.
The Navarrese team currently sits sixth in La Liga, with seven points from two wins and a draw. Their recent form reads win, win, draw. They have scored three goals and conceded just one, giving them a +2 goal difference. They are only two points behind leaders Barcelona. After the match in Vitoria, Osasuna will host Espanyol at El Sadar on September 12th, a team currently in 12th place. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Where did the Osasuna team meet?
The gathering took place at Casa Zanito, an establishment with over a hundred years of history located at number 10 Rúa Mayor, in the historic heart of Olite near the Royal Palace. The restaurant, which had been closed for several years, reopened in June 2024 under the direction of young Navarrese chef Lorenzo Aréjula Sánchez. A native of Villafranca trained in Zaragoza and Pamplona, Aréjula decided to revive this iconic venue after working in establishments in Pamplona, San Sebastián, and Madrid.
The chef explained the project's warm reception: "A la gente de Olite le hizo mucha ilusión que volviésemos a abrirlo" (The people of Olite were very excited that we reopened it). Since reopening, Casa Zanito has not only regained part of its traditional clientele but also attracts new customers and tourists. Its culinary proposal maintains the essence of Navarrese cuisine but with more modern preparations, featuring dishes like 'Verdura Maribel', created in homage to the chef's grandmother, the Zanito salad, various meats and fish, and desserts made in-house.
Which players attended the team meal?
The meeting brought together a large group of first-team footballers. Attendees included centre-back Alejandro Catena, midfielder Iker Muñoz, forward Iñigo Arguibide, midfielder Aimar Oroz, and winger Kike Barja. Goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, midfielder Jon Moncayola, full-back Diego Rico, and defender Raúl García de Haro were also present. The goal was clear: to strengthen bonds within the dressing room in a relaxed setting, away from the pitch, before a significant fixture.
These types of initiatives are valued for improving communication and team spirit, elements that can make the difference in tight matches. After the meal in Olite, the squad returned to Pamplona to focus entirely on the technical and tactical preparation for the match against Alavés. The squad's status can be followed in our squad section.
What is at stake at Mendizorroza?
Sunday's clash is a direct confrontation between two teams level on points in the table. Both Osasuna and Deportivo Alavés have seven points, although the Vitoria-based side occupies fourth place on goal difference, with Osasuna in fifth. The match represents an opportunity for Osasuna to demonstrate their solidity away from home and extend their positive run.
The season started with a goalless draw against Levante at El Sadar. The team then secured an important 1-2 victory at Balaídos against Celta, and closed the third matchday with a narrow 1-0 win over Getafe, also at home. A positive result at Mendizorroza would allow Osasuna to remain in the upper part of the table, closing in further on the leading positions. The evolution of the fight for the top spots can be seen in the standings.
The team thus faces a key stretch of the calendar, with an eye on picking up points ahead of the next home fixture against Espanyol. The squad trusts that the unity reinforced in Olite will translate into solid collective performance in Vitoria.
