An Unexpected Sunday Lunch - La Liga Style

Osasuna vs Villarreal

Who’d have thought we’d be looking ahead to Sunday lunchtime in La Liga in the knowledge that this clash would be a match-up of fifth versus fourth. Certainly, not me.

Of course, Osasuna and Villarreal have had their moments and their fair share of highlights but, given they finished 11^th and eighth in the table respectively last term, their improvement has taken a few by surprise.

Early days it may be but, as it stands, one and possibly both sides are in Champions League berths.

Talking Points

Beginning with the hosts, one man to keep a lookout for is winger Bryan Zaragoza who, judging by his cameo for La Roja on Monday night, should have an impact.

On loan from Bayern Munich, Zaragoza came on against Switzerland for the final half hour when Spain were 2-1 up.

He duly gave away a penalty with five minutes to go to allow Andi Zeqiri to equalise. However, he had been concerning defenders every time he got the ball, and in stoppage time, won his own penalty, which he picked up and scored to win the match.

Zaragoza is certainly making his mark in the La Liga 2024 highlights reel too with a goal and five assists in his 13 appearances to date.

Only Barcelona duo Raphinha (eight) and Lamine Yamal (seven), along with Real Madrid talent Vinicius Junior (six), have more than him this season.

Let’s not forget that he also put Barcelona to the sword earlier in the season to shock the leaders and inflict their first defeat of the campaign.

What of Villarreal then?

Villarreal are aiming to solidify their top-four position in La Liga as they take on Osasuna — Villarreal forward Jose Luis Morales celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during a Europa League match against Panathinaikos

Well, it’s not such a shock for them to be in the upper echelons of the table – they were also Europa League winners three years ago and Champions League semi-finalists as recently as two seasons ago.

In fact, who knows how they may have progressed had they been able to keep hold of Unai Emery, who left the ‘Yellow Submarine’ just over two years ago and has since masterminded a resurgence of Aston Villa since moving to the Midlands.

Last time out, they were too strong for Alaves as Ilias Akhomach fired home a superb opener before leaving the fray injured. Dani Parejo rolled home a penalty in the closing stages and Santi Comesana steered home a third goal for the clincher.

The gloss was taken off the victory when it was confirmed that Akhomach had suffered a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (not to mention a sprained internal lateral ligament) which will rule him out for the entire season.

A big blow, the news has been eased slightly in that the club appears to have a ready-made replacement in Yeremy Pino.

Villarreal are no stranger to giving the big boys a bloodied nose and enjoying success. If they win their game in hand, they can leapfrog 2021 Spanish champions Atletico Madrid into third spot.

But one game at a time as Osasuna, the only side in the top nine with a negative goal difference, have shown they are not among the European contenders by accident.

Events in the El Sadar Stadium should be a thoroughly entertaining way to spend a Sunday lunchtime.

History

The 1994/95 season was when the teams first met and resulted in a 2-0 Osasuna victory in the Segunda Division.

They completed a league double that season with a 2-1 home victory five months later.

In fact, it was at the sixth attempt before Villarreal tasted victory against Los Rojilos.

Their first 10 clashes were all in the Spanish second division from which they were both promoted in 2000.

That meant their first ever La Liga matchup occurred in January 2001 when Osasuna enjoyed a 1-0 victory with the only goal coming from the Argentine striker Mariano Armentano three minutes before the break.

This corresponding fixture last season ended 1-1 when Jose Luis Morales cancelled out a 30^th-minute opener from the Croatian striker Ante Budimir.

Villarreal ran out 3-1 winners at home with Morales the hero with a second half hat-trick. Alejandro Catena notched the Osasuna consolation.