Football Season Guide

Osasuna have finished 10th and then 11th in their two seasons since returning to the top flight, putting together another successful campaign last year, even if they were inside the relegation zone for eight matchdays over winter. But, they stuck with coach Jagoba Arrasate and that ultimately paid off. Arrasate has his team playing physical football, with solid defence and classic centre-forwards up front. His team is like one from years gone by, but with a supreme midfield talent in Jon Moncayola as the anchor and passing metronome that brings it all together. They are a well-oiled machine and everybody knows their place, while Osasuna spent the summer bringing more talent in. They picked off left-back Jose Angel and striker Kike Garcia from relegated neighbours Eibar, as well as managing to sign Ante Budimir to a permanent deal after he impressed on loan. It has been a good summer, then, as Osasuna have improved what was already a good squad and they feel they have the right coach to knit it all together. The return of fans is also exciting as they have traditionally had one of the best home atmospheres in the division and even have a renovated stadium that should amplify the noise further. Osasuna, then, will look to build on the successes of the past two seasons when this one gets up and running.