Behind Enemy Lines: CA Osasuna

Background, Transfers, and Expectations

After a few years in Segunda Division, Osasuna returned to La Liga with an excellent 19/20 season efficiency. Many newly-promoted sides favor to play conservatively, however Osasuna did the alternative and have become one of the aggressive and direct groups within the league. Their sturdy urgent system mixed with the offensive abilities of left-back Pervis Estupiñán and striker Ezequiel “Chimy“ Ávila allowed Osasuna’s assault to carry out on the stage of a top-half crew. This was a formidable feat for a newly-promoted aspect and Osasuna deservedly completed tenth on the league desk.

Nevertheless, Osasuna’s second season in La Liga is popping out to be rather more sophisticated. Estupiñán’s mortgage ended on the finish of the 19/20 season and the wealthier Villarreal acquired him. In the meantime, Chimy Ávila’s 2020 was affected by long-term accidents, with ruptured cruciate ligaments in each his proper and left knee. Each gamers weren’t solely key for the offense, their bodily depth additionally made them key cogs within the urgent system.

Contemplating the monetary struggles of COVID occasions, Osasuna did in addition to they might to switch these two key gamers. They signed left-back Juan Cruz from Elche, one of the impactful fullbacks in Segunda División final yr. To compensate for Ávila’s absence they introduced in THREE heart forwards: Enric Gallego, Ante Budimir, and Jonathan Calleri (the latter two on mortgage). And to spice up the offense additional in addition they received Jony from Lazio on mortgage as a much-needed left-wing possibility.

Given all this good motion within the switch market, Osasuna appeared set for an additional strong midtable season however this hasn’t been the case. Defensive and offensive efficiency is nowhere close to nearly as good because it was final season, and now Osasuna discover themselves deservedly within the relegation zone.

Following the 4-4-2 Excessive Urgent Mannequin

Pamplona is near the Basque Nation and one can undoubtedly see influences of the extraordinary and bodily Basque taking part in fashion in Osasuna. This has change into much more evident now that they’ve a Basque supervisor in Jagoba Arrasate. This area of Spain options very “British” climate, with loads of rain and overcast days. And similar to their counterparts within the British Isles, these situations pressured Basque groups to play with extra lengthy balls, crosses, and aerial duels so as to bypass the sluggish and muddy pitches.

Following the footsteps of Basque La Liga neighbors like Athletic or Eibar, Arrasate’s Osasuna applied their very own high-pressing 4-4-2 sport plan. Ranging from a flat 4-4-2 formation, Osasuna typically shifts their urgent form right into a 4-4-2 diamond to trace the opposition holding midfielder, with one of many central midfielders shifting simply behind the forwards and the wingers tucking inside. Arrasate describes these actions within the video under and feedback that the brand new purpose kick guidelines have led him to decide on this extra aggressive 4-4-2 diamond scheme for urgent. Despite the fact that the video is in Spanish, one can comply with the actions on his ways board.

In protection, David García and Aridane Hernández are one of the aerially dominant heart again pairs in La Liga, with each males profitable near 80% of their aerial duels. The fullbacks are maybe essentially the most disappointing space of the crew proper now: neither Nacho Vidal on the correct nor new signing Juan Cruz are actually offering extra added worth within the last third with their runs and crossing.

Photograph by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Pictures

The double-pivot in midfield often options Oier Sanjurjo and Jon Moncayola, who’re essentially the most energetic urgent gamers within the crew and competent ball progressors. If Arrasate needs extra muscle in his midfield he’ll use Darko Brašanac as a substitute.

Osasuna’s regular wingers—Roberto Torres on the correct and Ruben García on the left—are extra attacking midfielder sorts than conventional wingers. They don’t have the velocity and dribbling to actually make harmful runs in direction of the purpose line, so as a substitute, they function in additional central areas. They mix with their fullbacks to offer crosses from the half-spaces or assault the field when a teammate from the alternative wing crosses the ball. Each gamers rating or help a purpose roughly as soon as each three video games, which is a fairly good charge for midfielders in a midtable crew like Osasuna.

García can be vital in Osasuna’s urgent sport. A fantastic instance of this occurred final week towards Actual Sociedad, when he stole the ball from Willian José and assisted a purpose. If Arrasate needs a extra conventional winger profile, he’ll use Jony as a substitute of García on the left wing.

Up entrance, this season Arrasate likes to pair up an enormous goal man with a smaller, extra cell striker. For the goal man position, Arrasate alternates Jonathan Calleri and Ante Budimir within the beginning lineup. Neither of them has the velocity or depth of Ávila and don’t shoot and rating as incessantly, however are fairly helpful at profitable aerial duels. And Budimir presses typically, so he makes for a great defensive asset too. The smaller striker is often Adrián López, however since he’s been injured incessantly within the final two months, Arrasate has been utilizing Ruben García on this position.

Present Kind and Numbers

Supply: Transfermarkt https://www.transfermarkt.com/ca-osasuna/spielplan/verein/331/plus/0?saison_id=2020

This season, Osasuna have struggled extra with sustaining the compactness of their 4-4-2 defensive block when urgent. With out Estupiñán and Ávila, the double pivot of Oier and Moncayola has been pressured to do much more aggressive urgent work to compensate. All this urgent work makes them go away gaps behind their again extra incessantly, and opponents are making the most of these gaps to create extra harmful assaults and wreak havoc within the Osasuna line of defense. These issues are mirrored in Osasuna’s defensive numbers: they’re now backside 5 within the league by way of targets and anticipated targets conceded.

Arrasate’s midfielders are taking extra dangers, however these dangers will not be resulting in extra offensive manufacturing. Osasuna shouldn’t be profitable the ball as excessive up the pitch as final season, so they’re struggling to cross from actually good positions. This drawback is made worse by the departure of Estupiñán, who was very productive and constant together with his crossing. In the meantime, Budimir and Calleri are respectable strikers however their lack of velocity and depth in comparison with Ávila means they don’t get to win duels within the field and shoot as incessantly. So Osasuna are producing fewer and worse probabilities than final yr. These offensive points are mirrored in Osasuna’s targets and anticipated targets created: they’re now among the many backside 5 groups in La Liga in these metrics.

After taking a look at all these points, it’s no shock Osasuna haven’t received any of their final 10 video games within the league and are positioned nineteenth within the league desk.

The problems with the urgent system have pressured Arrasate to experiment with completely different shapes. Towards, Atlético, for instance, one might see situations through which they pressed with a 4-2-3-1 form, with one of many two forwards staying deeper to mark the opposition holding midfielder. This allowed the central midfielders to remain again and never go away large gaps behind their again. Of their final sport towards Actual Sociedad, Arrasate had his crew defend in a 4-1-4-1 form, with Jon Moncayola appearing as a defensive midfielder that screens behind the 2 different central midfielders.

Matchup towards Real Madrid

Zidane as soon as once more has most of his squad obtainable apart from Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal. Despite the fact that he’s taking part in towards a relegation candidate, Zidane is unlikely to rotate a lot, as his present XI is taking part in persistently nicely and he doesn’t need to have an effect on that dynamic.

Asensio and Vázquez are very prone to begin once more after a great efficiency towards Celta, however the query for this Osasuna sport is what roles will they begin in. Within the absence of Carvajal, Vázquez would possibly begin as right-back as a substitute. Nevertheless, this sport additionally looks like a great alternative for Álvaro Odriozola, who hasn’t seen a lot motion this season because of accidents, so maybe he performs the RB position and Vázquez begins with no consideration winger as a substitute. Relying on the place Vázquez performs and if Hazard begins, Asensio might play because the left or proper winger.

Photograph by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP through Getty Pictures

A key facet of this sport will probably be how nicely Actual assault the areas behind Osasuna’s urgent line. This may require good actions in between traces from Modrić and Benzema, whereas Asensio and Vázquez benefit from the additional house left by Osasuna to make harmful runs with the ball and behind defenses. That is significantly helpful for Asensio, who performs higher in these quick transition conditions as a substitute of slower, extra static possessions.

On the opposite aspect, Arrasate and Osasuna have just a few damage issues with midfielders Lucas Torro and Darka Brašanac being unavailable, in addition to ahead Adrián López and naturally the long-term damage of Chimy Ávila.

Photograph by Francisco Macia/High quality Sport Pictures/Getty Pictures

The large query for Arrasate is whether or not he needs to make use of his conventional 4-4-2 sport plan (with the urgent issues we mentioned earlier than) or the brand new 4-3-3 scheme used towards Actual Sociedad final week. Osasuna struggled to provide good photographs towards Actual Sociedad with this lineup, however it was certainly one of their stronger defensive performances. The 4-3-3 appears to work higher for them at sustaining compactness and this may very well be very priceless towards Actual’s proficient attackers.

If Arrasate seems like taking dangers and being extra offensive, he can select the 4-4-2, with Ruben García possible beginning as a ahead alongside Budimir or Calleri. Osasuna are a crew with a really wing oriented assault, so Actual will most likely want one other strong defensive efficiency from Lucas and Asensio, who did very nicely on this facet towards Celta.