Osasuna – Real Betis

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Osasuna and Betis have made a woeful start to the new campaign. In the 14 games played between them so far, they have only one win to boast collectively. And that was recorded last weekend by Betis when they thumped Mallorca 3-0.

The much needed victory has relieved the pressure momentarily on Los Verdiblancos boss, Paco Chaparro, who would have been guaranteed the axe had his side fallen to the Balearic Islanders.

Cuco Ziganda, however, wasn’t as lucky as he was given the chop a fortnight ago when Osasuna once again failed to pick up their first win of the season following a 0-1 loss at home to Racing Santander the week before, in what was their fourth match in a row without a goal.

As a result, veteran coach José Antonio Camacho was appointed as the team’s new trainer in a bid to stop the rot before their relegation troubles could spiral out of control.

But the veteran former Spain and Real Madrid boss made a losing start with the Navarrans when they went down 2-1 to Sporting Gijón, effectively making them the only side in the league yet to win a single game after Betis ended their own winless streak last Sunday.

Who’s Next?

Chaparro may have guided the Andaluz outfit to that elusive maiden victory of the 08/09 term but his job is far from safe. The Betis board have already set an ultimatum for the 65 year old, which is to acquire at least four more points from the next two games, including Saturday’s clash at Osasuna.

Anything short of that target and Chaparro could very well be the next managerial casualty of the season. Even Camacho himself, is not entirely protected. The Osasuna head honchos are no doubt expecting instant improvement and if they don’t see any signs of change, they will not hesitate to dish out the same treatment.

It just seems as though this clash at the Reyna de Navarro is bound to produce another sacking, either by the start of the new week or at some point in the not too distant future.

Club presidents and owners in La Liga are rarely afraid to make hasty decisions to wield the axe whilst the coaches themselves are never ashamed of calling it quits immediately after joining a team, especially if things don’t go as planned right away, as Camacho himself did at Real Madrid just a few seasons back.

FORM GUIDE

Osasuna

Oct 19 Sporting Gijón 2-1 Osasuna (LA LIGA)

Oct 05 Osasuna 0-1 Racing Santander (LA LIGA)

Sep 28 Numancia 0-0 Osasuna (LA LIGA)

Sep 24 Osasuna 0-0 Deportivo La Coruña (LA LIGA)

Sep 21 Valencia 1-0 Osasuna (LA LIGA)

Real Betis

Oct 19 Real Betis 3-0 RCD Mallorca (LA LIGA)

Oct 04 Villarreal 2-1 Real Betis (LA LIGA)

Sep 27 Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid (LA LIGA)

Sep 24 Barcelona 3-2 Real Betis (LA LIGA)

Sep 21 Real Betis 0-0 Sevilla (LA LIGA)

TEAM NEWS

Osasuna

Brazilian defender Rovérsio is suspended after his sending off at Gijón last week. Camacho has already confirmed Josetxo as his replacement to partner Miguel Flaño at centreback.

Czech midfielder Jaroslav Plasil is back from a one-match ban while Ludovic Delporte has recovered from a muscle injury but Nacho Monreal and Xavier Margairaz are both sidelined.

The new coach is also likely to stick with his preferred 4-4-2 formation, instead of Ziganda’s lone striker system.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ricardo – Azpilicueta, Josetxo, Miguel Flaño, Oier – Juanfran, Puñal, Nekounam, Ezquerro – Sola, Portillo/Pandiani

Real Betis

Winger Mark González has been ruled out for three months after damaging his knee ligaments while on international duty two weeks ago.

Defender Juanito is a serious doubt as he struggles with a back injury while Lima and José Mari are confirmed absentees as they have yet to reach full match fitness despite completing rehabilitation on their respective ailments.

The good news, however, is that Edu is finally back in the fray after making a full recovery from a serious hamstring injury he sustained during pre-season. The club physio has given him the all clear and there’s a strong possibility he will make his season debut.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Casto – Nélson, Arzu, Melli/Juanito, Fernando Vega – Aurélio, Capi – Edu, Emana, Sergio García – Pavone

My prediction is Osasuna – Real Betis 0-1

[joaquin17ireland]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

A tough game for us, but Osasuna are in terrible form so we should take advantage.

It's also on Sky Sports in the UK, so it'll be seen live in the UK and Ireland which is great!

I predict a 2-1 win to Betis with Edú scoring the winning goal.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

I think this is also a must win game for us.We need the 3 points.We have an much better squad than Osasuna. In Holland we can see the match live at Sport1

[Béticomad1018]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Come on Betis, we can win the second match and start our own season. The lion has woken up.

[Mercator]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

I hope so!


VAMO BETIII

[anarkia78]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Very important victory to the future. Bigs Mehmet Aurelio and Nelson.

[joaquin17ireland]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

A really, really good away performance. Nelson, Aurelio, Vega and Emana were fantastic. Sergio Garcia was poor I thought. Some of Nelson's runs were mesmerising. So thats six points in a row, five goals in two games and two clean sheets. Amazing. Vamos Betis!

[Béticomad1018]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Great triumph. I said, our season is starting now. Come on Betis. The best supporters of the world, we can!

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Excellent result

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Osasuna errors gift Betis victory.

Real Betis picked up their second straight win in the league after two massive defensive errors in the Osasuna defence saw José Antonio Camacho lose his first home game in charge...

José Antonio Camacho's arrival could not inspire Osasuna to take anything from an improving Real Betis as the new manager saw his first home match in charge end in defeat.

A largely forgetful affair was decided by two awful Osasuna errors from free-kicks, the first just after half-time where the wall simply split to allow Mehmet Aurelio's shot to creep into the bottom corner and the second by goalkeeper Ricardo who spilled a pretty standard shot straight into the path of on-rushing striker Mariano Pavone.

They were two very poor goals to concede for Osasuna but in truth they really didn't deserve to take anything from the game after looking uninspired and short of ideas for much of the ninety minutes. The home side only really stepped on the gas in the last ten minutes or so and whilst they did have a goal harshly ruled out early on in the first half they were second best for much of the game.

Real Betis on the other hand were far from brilliant but they capitalised on two poor errors and they probably just about shaded a game which was devoid of many chances. The win is their second on the spin and will give manager Paco Chaparro some breathing space after been given an ultimatum earlier this month.

Camacho meanwhile will need to change things quickly if he is to turn things around as his side looked blunt upfront and it is hard to see how they will win too many matches playing like this.

Slow Start

With both sides keen for a win there were no real surprises from the start as the managers decided to stick with nearly the same eleven from their last matches. Subsequently the match started a decent pace but mainly because of poor passing and bad control from players on either side. It wasn't until the 15th minute that the first shot was recorded with Fernando Vega forcing a save, albeit a comfortable one, out of Ricardo. Just a minute later and suddenly the game, and the stadium, came to life as Osasuna saw their first effort from Santiago Ezquerro incorrectly ruled out by the referee. The decision appeared to be for offside but judging from the replay it was the wrong call and the crowd seemed to recognise this as the whistles rang out around the Reino de Navarra.

With the crowd finally able to get into the game the home side did too and they enjoyed much greater possession as the half wore on. Ezquerro saw a shot well saved by Casto before Damia shot wide and then Ricardo tipped an effort from Capi around the post, although the referee again ruled incorrectly as he gave a goal-kick. Betis looked relatively assured at the back but they could easily have gone into the half behind had Kike Sola finished a header from close range rather than miss the goal. As it was though the referee blew for half-time with no injury time and was greeted by a chorus of whistles as he walked from the pitch.

Defensive Lapse

He was to become even more unpopular just five minutes after the interval as he blew for a free-kick to Betis which led to the games opening goal. The foul was committed about five yards outside the Osasuna box right infront of the goal and even though Mehmet Aurelio struck the ball well there was a massive error in the wall which allowed it to beat Ricardo and nestle into the bottom corner. Camacho obviously hasn't had time to work on defensive walls yet as the players in red seemed to part straight down the middle and the ball, which was only about waist height, went between them. It was an awful goal to concede but they could well have been level just a minute later as Javier Portillo got his first real chance of the game, however his header was well saved by Casto.

After that opening, and even though the onus was totally on Osasuna, the game seemed to die down again, with both teams looking blunt upfront and offering very little entertainment for the fans. It wasn't until about the 70th minute that the home side actually created another clear cut chance with Sola, who was the best player for Osasuna in the half, missing a great chance to level the match. The ball was flicked over the top of the Betis defence by Ezquerro and all Sola had to do was get something on it to beat Casto but he failed to do so. The home side were finally starting to apply some pressure but just as they did so they were caught with a sucker punch in the 85th minute as Betis sealed the three points, again thanks to a horrible error by Osasuna, this time by Ricardo.

The goal came from another free-kick, this time taken by Achille Emana, which was struck hard but straight at the Osasuna keeper from about 20 yards out. Just as it looked as though he had it though he spilt it straight into the path of Mariano Pavone, who was following in well to tap into the net. The goalkeeper protested at length to the referee but there was no doubt that it was his error which had allowed Pavone to score the winner.

Osasuna 0-2 Real Betis

0-1 `51 Mehmet Aurelio
0-2 `85 Achille Emana

Osasuna: Ricardo, Azpilicueta, M. Flaño, Josetxo, Oier, Juanfran, Puñal (`62 Font), Nekounam, Ezquerro, Portillo (`62 Dady), Sola (`78 Masoud)

Real Betis: Casto, Nélson (`86 Rivas), Arzu, Juanito, F. Vega, Aurelio, Emana (`89 Juanma), Damiá, Capi (`68 Melli), S. García, Pavone

[Adri-BetiS]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

I think that tomorrow Betis will win!

My pronostic:

Osasuna 0-2 Betis

Goals scored by Sergio García and Emaná.

very well

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Osasuna – Real Betis

Chaparro pleased with Betis resurgence.

Having seen his side win their second consecutive game, Real Betis coach Paco Chaparro has spoken of his delight at the team's change in fortunes.
Two weeks ago, Real Betis were stucky firmly at the foot of the table, winless and looking like certain candidates for relegation. A fortnight and two wins later, however, there is renewed optimism at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.

Speaking at the post match press conference after his side's 2-0 win at Osasuna, Chaparro said, "I am not going to speak about whether or not we were the better team. We have scored two goals and continue to progress forward. The thought that we could not win games never entered my mind."

Referring to a controversial incident in the 16th minute that saw a Santiago Ezquerro effort ruled out for Osasuna, Chaparro stated, "It was definitely a mistake, but the result cannot be attributed to just one incident. That is a matter for Osasuna to speak on."

It may be too soon to get complacent, but given that Betis have got the famous horror run of fixtures out of the way for now, there is definite cause for optimism ahead.