Osasuna manager Juan Ramis is demanding an immediate response from his team after the first defeat of his tenure. The Navarrese club, eighth in La Liga with 7 points, host Espanyol at El Sadar this Saturday (16:15) aiming to move on from the heavy loss suffered in Vitoria.
"The first defeat of the Ramis era, a major blow, needs an immediate response to leave doubts behind and continue on the right path in this league start," the coach stated. The 5-2 defeat at Alaves last weekend exposed defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of attacking spark that the coaching staff must urgently address.
Absences and lineup doubts
Planning for the match is complicated by injuries. Moi Gómez, who was hurt against Alaves, joins the list of players with muscle problems that already includes Aimar Oroz and Jorge Herrando. His absence forces changes at left-back, where Pablo Moro and Kike Barja are the main candidates to fill the role.
In midfield, options to provide more defensive cover include Jon Moncayola or Lucas Torró. Ramis must also decide whether to keep the attacking partnership of Raúl García and Ante Budimir, who scored a brace in the defeat, or introduce variations. In defence, the vulnerability shown could lead to Unai García coming in for Herve Boyomo, while Diego Rico is pushing for a start ahead of Juan Cruz.
The Espanyol challenge
The opponent, RCD Espanyol, arrives in Pamplona with 4 points and sitting lower in the table, but with an attack featuring weapons like Calatrava, Dolan, Javi Hernández and Bryan. A significant away following is expected, adding atmosphere to a match Osasuna approach with a need to recover intensity and competitive character.
The schedule gets tougher afterwards, with a trip to Madrid to face Atlético Madrid next Wednesday. Therefore, a win against Espanyol is key to solidifying a position in the upper part of the standings before a demanding week. The rojillos, with a record of 5 goals scored and 6 conceded, aim to get back on track at home, where they have earned 4 of their 7 points this season. The full squad and latest injury news can be checked on the squad page.
Saturday's match at El Sadar represents the perfect opportunity to prove that the stumble in Vitoria was just a blip in a season start that, with 2 wins and 1 draw from 4 games, keeps the team in the upper reaches of the table.
