What holds Osasuna collectively regardless of its modest means and the overarching presence of Basque giants Athletic Club and Real Sociedad in Navarre, the area Osasuna is predicated in, is, within the phrases of the membership’s vice chairman, Jose Manuel Piquer Martin-Portugues, “sentiment, sentiment, and more sentiment.”
Never backing away from a confrontation is a tantalising proposition on this a part of the world. Nothing can be a greater testomony to this than the grotesque ‘Running of the Bulls’ pageant, which takes place in Pamplona, Navarre’s capital, yearly.
This thought, by default, is woven into Osasuna too. “It [Pamplona] is a small city. We have a strong set of spectators. Ours is a very English-style stadium, such that the fans are very close to the players. People live football with great passion,” says Martin-Portugues.
El Sadar, Osasuna’s stadium, gave a glimpse of this ardour on the ultimate match day of La Liga within the 2008–09 season. Hosting Real Madrid, Osasuna’s future within the prime flight was hanging by a thread. Only a win and a subsequent draw between Getafe and Real Valladolid would have assured security.
When the 19,000-strong El Sadar erupted for Juanfran’s match-winning volley within the sixtieth minute, the noise was measured at 115.17 decibels—a La Liga document. The El Sadar crowd had bettered Camp Nou’s document from 2000, when the Barcelona devoted granted an unceremonious welcome to Real Madrid’s Luis Figo. The Camp Nou is a stadium almost 5 occasions the scale of El Sadar.
“There is not a better stadium to celebrate a goal of that magnitude,” Juanfran had stated after securing Osasuna’s place within the first division.
In 2019, El Sadar was given a facelift, which elevated its capability to 24,400 whereas additionally including a standing part within the stadium. The higher tier of the stadium was given a 45-degree inclination to maintain the followers as near the pitch as doable, thereby including to the acoustics of El Sadar. Anfield, Liverpool’s stadium, is understood for its close-in seating association, which helps create a loud ambiance. For anybody in Pamplona, El Sadar will not be too far behind Anfield.
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Riding on this dwelling assist, Osasuna stitched up a 31-match unbeaten run at El Sadar in La Liga, which stretched throughout the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons. Valencia and Barcelona had been among the many groups that tried to breach the fortress and got here up quick.
But the gang is barely one-half of Pamplona. The different half, which mixes to make a go to to El Sadar a frightening and unsightly prospect, is the abrasive, in-your-face taking part in type.
“When we are talking about the essence of the club, it is still there. We are good at this kind of direct football, trying to get around the back of the defender and not sleep on the ball. It is a part of us. We like them to get the ball upfield and keep the pressure on the teams; fast transitions out of defence into attack, that’s what we are good at,” says Patxi Punal, who made a document 468 appearances for Osasuna.
On these two pillars, Osasuna has been capable of put up a definite identification. If Barcelona is the free-flowing, artistic large, and if Real Madrid is the workforce with aptitude, Osasuna is the one which will provide you with a run in your cash.
“Financially, we cannot compete. Your home and the colour of your shirt represent who you are and we put as much effort on our part to make them [players] feel at home,” stated Martin-Portugues.
Osasuna on the sector, nonetheless, has damaged away from the underdog tag and marked its ascendancy recently. It has prevented the ignominy of relegation for 4 seasons now and appears heading in the right direction to make it 5.
Last season, it completed runner-up within the Copa del Rey, taking place 1-2 towards Real Madrid. Its seventh-place end gained it a shot at a UEFA Conference League spot. This season, Osasuna featured within the Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia the place it misplaced to Barcelona within the semifinal.
As ambition begins to pile up at Osasuna’s doorstep, Martin-Portugues asserts that his membership will stick with its identification because it embarks on a brand new chapter in its historical past.
“Playing in Riyadh against Barcelona helps. We’re trying to get as high as we can as a club. We need money. We need great players to build a strong structure. The most important thing at the end of the day is that the ball gets into the back of the net,” he says.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com