Osasuna Coach Vicente Moreno Confident Despite LaLiga Struggles Ahead of Barcelona Clash
Despite a challenging run in LaLiga, Osasuna’s head coach, Vicente Moreno, has expressed confidence as his team prepares to face Barcelona. While Osasuna has only managed to secure a single league victory in 2025 and currently holds 33 points from 27 games this season, Moreno believes in his team’s ability to compete against top opposition.
Osasuna’s Past Successes Against Top Teams
Moreno points to Osasuna’s previous successes this season as a source of optimism. Notably, Osasuna achieved a significant 4-2 victory over Barcelona earlier in September 2024 at El Sadar. Furthermore, they triumphed over Athletic Club with a 3-2 win in the Copa del Rey at San Mames. These results, according to Moreno, demonstrate Osasuna’s capability to perform against the league’s best teams.
Speaking to the press, Moreno emphasized the importance of self-belief and enjoying the challenge ahead of the Barcelona and Athletic Club games:
- “These are two huge games that we need to enjoy and play well. Playing against a team vying for the league title and another aiming for Champions League qualification is demanding, and requires us to give our absolute best.”
- “Facing Barcelona is a challenge for any team. Our key is to have faith in ourselves. We are up against two tough opponents, but we have already defeated them this season. We need to harness that confidence to continue performing well.”
While acknowledging Barcelona’s strength, Moreno reiterated that Osasuna must believe in their own abilities to achieve a positive result.
Barcelona’s Hansi Flick Frustrated by Player Absences for Osasuna Game
On the other side, Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, has voiced his frustration regarding the unavailability of key players Raphinha and Ronald Araujo for the upcoming LaLiga match against Osasuna. This match, initially postponed due to the passing of club doctor Carles Minarro Garcia, now presents additional challenges for Barcelona.
The international break has significantly impacted Barcelona’s squad preparation. Raphinha’s participation for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina, where he played the full 90 minutes, has ruled him out for the Osasuna fixture. Similarly, Ronald Araujo is unavailable due to travel fatigue after being with the Uruguay national team in Bolivia, despite not playing in their match.
Hansi Flick confirmed their absence, citing the long travel distances and the need for recovery. He stated:
- “They’re out. The flight is long, and it’s not an ideal situation. They need to recover and train, and then we will assess their condition for Sunday.”
Adding to Barcelona’s woes, 11 other players have returned from international duty, reportedly far from full fitness. Flick expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the match, given the circumstances:
- “It’s not the best situation for them. The players have been playing with their national teams, which is not ideal. Now we have to play against Osasuna, and we must question if this is the right moment. I am not happy…”
Despite his concerns, Flick clarified that while other leagues might handle similar situations differently, Barcelona will not use these challenges as an excuse.
Will Osasuna’s confidence translate to a positive result against a Barcelona side facing player availability issues? Football fans worldwide are keen to see how this LaLiga clash unfolds.
Want to stay updated on LaLiga and other football news? Click here to explore more articles and in-depth analysis!