MADRID, Aug. 30 (silubaba) -- Osasuna plays the return leg of the Conference League away to Belgian side Club Brugge on Thursday, knowing they need a win if their European dream is not to fall at the first hurdle.
The side from Pamplona lost the first leg of their preliminary round 2-1 in their El Sadar Stadium last week and needs to turn things around in the Jan Breydel Stadium to qualify for the group stage.
Jagoba Arrasate's men will welcome Chimy Avila back into the starting 11 after his suspension in La Liga last weekend and the talented, but temperamental Argentine will give speed and bite to their attack.
Osasuna showed their tenacity at the weekend with a 95th minute goal that gave them a 2-1 win over Valencia, with Arrasate resting several key players to ensure they are fresh for Thursday.
Lucas Torro, Moi Gomez and Unai Garcia watched the game from the subs' bench, while others such as Ante Budimir, Jon Moncayola, Ruben Pena and Nacho Vidal (who scored the late winner) all came on as second half substitutes.
Arrasate has called all 24 fit players to travel, with the squad flying to Belgium on Wednesday morning, prior to training in the Jan Breydel Stadium.
"We are going with the hope of getting through the round and being in Friday's draw for the group stage," commented Osasuna President, Luis Sabalza at the airport prior to departure.
Osasuna fans will take heart that their two wins in three La Liga games this campaign have come away from home and they will be backed by a noisy contingent of around 1,000 traveling supporters. ■
微信扫描下方的二维码阅读本文
