Ziganda set for Osasuna challenge

Posted at 8:08 AM, May 29, 2006

Osasuna's new coach Jose Angel Ziganda has been presented to the media in Pamplona -- revealing that he is looking forward to the new challenge ahead of him. 

"It will be really exciting to take the team into the Champions League for the first time," he said.

Ziganda, 39, takes over from Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who has left for Atletico Madrid after surprisingly guiding Osasuna to their first appearance in Europe's premier tournament.

Ziganda was introduced to reporters by club president Pachi Izco, who said: "He is a man well known within this club, for his talent and hard work.

"In fact, I'm sure he's the perfect man to carry on the good work of Aguirre."

For the past three years Ziganda has been coach of the club's nursery side.

Ziganda, born and raised in the Navarre region, was a tall and skilful forward for Osasuna from 1987 to 1991, when he moved on to Athletic Bilbao.

He picked up two caps for Spain but failed to impress at international level.

He will be assisted in the job by another former Spain striker, Jon Andoni Goikoetxea, who was Ziganda's right-hand man with the nursery team.

Goikoetxea was a speedy right-winger for Osasuna, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, and looked good for Spain in the 1994 World Cup finals.

Izco said that he was planning to strengthen the Osasuna squad for next season. "It's going to be a very challenging but difficult year," he said, "and I think we need a little more depth in the squad."

One of his targets is Mallorca's Venezuelan striker Juan Arango.

Ludovic Delporte and Pierre Webo - both outstanding in the Osasuna attack this season - have attracted the interest of several French clubs, and it may be difficult for Izco to keep them in Pamplona.

Atletico appoint Aguirre

Posted at 12:20 PM, May 26, 2006

Atletico Madrid have confirmed that former Osasuna boss Javier Aguirre will replace Pepe Murcia as first team coach next season.

Aguirre has coached Osasuna for the last three seasons, taking them to a record-equalling fourth-place finish in the Primera Liga last season.
The former Mexico coach has been attracted widespread praise for the way in which he has moulded a his team on limited resources.
Atletico finished in a disappointing 10th position in the Primera Liga.

Pamplona erupts after Osasuna grab Champions League spot

Posted at 9:42 AM, May 22, 2006

Osasuna have secured a Champions League place for the first time with a 2-1 home win over Valencia that sparked celebrations in Pamplona.

"It's like a dream you never want to wake up from," Osasuna president Patxi Izco told reporters after the club's last game of the season on Tuesday.

"We have been in the Champions League places for 32 weeks this season and deserve it. We made it difficult near the end but finally did it in style by beating a great Valencia side."

The Navarrans had to win to guarantee fourth place because Sevilla were level on points with an inferior head-to-head record.

Serbian striker Savo Milosevic headed the opener after 48 minutes and midfielder David Lopez added a second two minutes later.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ricardo was in fine form as third-placed Valencia applied the pressure near the end,and remained unbeaten until David Villa scored from a free kick in injury time.

Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre, who is leaving after four years at the club, said: "It is an indescribable emotion.

"This is the reward for a large number of people because behind me there are hundreds of workers who will enjoy this even more, and deservedly so."

The Mexican is being linked with Atletico Madrid. Osasuna will enter the third qualifying round of Europe's elite competition.

Aguirre to quit Osasuna

Posted at 9:18 AM, May 10, 2006

Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Aguirre, whose contract ends next month, informed the team of his intentions on Monday, news agency Efe said Wednesday, citing midfielders Ludovic Delporte and David Lopez.

"It's his decision and he has taken it for a reason. He has spent four years here, he has worked very well and perhaps it is his chance to join a big team," Lopez was quoted as saying.

Spanish media reports have recently suggested Aguirre, who also played for Osasuna, will take over at Atletico Madrid.

The 47-year-old Mexican, who coached his national team at the 2002 World Cup, is on the verge of securing Osasuna's first berth in the Champions League. The team lies fourth, three points ahead of Sevilla, with a game to play.

Aguirre is the most successful coach in Osasuna's history. Last season, he took the team to its first Copa del Rey final, where it lost in extra time to Real Betis.

SANTANDER SEAL THEIR SAFETY

Posted at 9:53 AM, May 8, 2006

Racing Santander saved themselves from relegation with a week to spare with a 2-1 victory which leaves Osasuna needing to win their last match with Valencia to be certain of a place in next year's Champions League preliminary round.

Savo Milosevic's 55th-minute goal had looked like sealing that berth for the men from Pamplona but Racing snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with late goals from Pablo Alfaro and Antonito Perez.

Three points for Osasuna next week would make them unassailable because - even if Sevilla, who have a game in hand, drew level on points - the Pamplona club would still pip them because they have done the double over the Andalusians in the head-to-head fixtures.

Racing can already start partying, however, with an objective achieved that is much more modest than Osasuna's.

Racing started the match well and after 11 minutes they created their first chance as they won a free-kick 35 yards out.

Felipe Melo stepped forward and tried his luck with his left foot but Ricardo made the save.

Racing threatened again after 22 minutes when Ayoze Diaz took advantage of a deflected ball in the area and sent in a left footed shot - however he misconnected and sent it wide.

Osasuna nearly took the lead after 25 minutes when Ludovic Delporte fed Pierre Webo - the Cameroon international tried a volley but it was saved by Dudu Aouate.

Sergio Matabuena, who scored both goals for Racing in their 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in midweek, had a chance after 38 minutes when he collected a pass from Juanjo but his left-footed shot forced former Manchester United shot-stopper Ricardo into another save.

All the goals were in the second half and the men from Pamplona were the first to strike.

It was a superb goal and the ball was crossed into the area from the left towards David Lopez who drew the defenders and the keeper before squaring to an unmarked Milosevic and the Serbia and Montenegro international found the empty net.

Matabuena tried to launch the Racing rally as he got his head to a cross from Oscar Serrano but he was wide of the mark.

Racing must have feared the worst when Melo's penalty - awarded for a foul by substitute Marcelo Sosa on Matabuena - was saved by Ricardo with 10 minutes to play.

But from the resulting corner, Racing levelled the match with Alfaro's header doing the job.

The hosts then struck the winner with just two minutes to play as Antonito was first to get to a loose ball and scored.

It was a goal worth its weight in gold for Racing but Osasuna must wait to find out if they will hit an even bigger jackpot.

AGUIRRE HAILS 10-MAN OSASUNA

Posted at 9:51 AM, May 4, 2006

Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre welcomed his side's 1-0 away win over Atletico Madrid as a vital step towards winning the club a place in the Champions League for the first time.

Midfielder Inaki Munoz struck after just 16 minutes in the Vicente Calderon and the Navarrans held on despite losing defender Rafael Clavero to a red card early in the second half.

The result left Osasuna in fourth position - the Primera Liga's final Champions League slot - and five points ahead of fifth-placed Celta Vigo, with two games left to play.

"These were three golden points for us in our fight to enter the Champions League next season," said Aguirre.

"Atletico were very close to equalising at the end and no-one could have complained if it had finished even.

"We didn't put on much of a spectacle but we were organised, committed and were patient throughout to earn the points."

After watching his side produce a wretched display, Atletico coach Pepe Murcia admitted his players face a battle to finish the season with any dignity.

"We have two games left now and it is vital we do our best to finish the season in a dignified manner," said Murcia, whose side are 10th in the standings.

"Mathematically we can still make it to the Intertoto Cup but it is a long shot."

With Murcia's days on the bench looking numbered, and his opposite number Aguirre hot favourite in the media to replace him, the Atletico coach called for some sympathy for his side.

The players were barracked and heckled from all sides by their fans as they left the pitch.

"They are a young team, who perhaps lack a little character at present. But there is strong base there to be built on if the players are given some time," he added.

Osasuna to fight for fourth

Posted at 10:16 AM, May 3, 2006

Osasuna  boss Javier Aguirre has promised that the Pamplona side will fight to hang on to fourth place in the Primera Liga table and thus qualify for the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League.

Osasuna lost at home to Real Madrid 1-0 on Sunday, the loss dropping them four points behind third-placed Real and just two points ahead of a Celta Vigo side that has won its last three matches.

"We are still fourth and we are determined to defend our narrow advantage over the others tooth and nail,� Aguirre, the former Mexico boss, said.

"The players deserve it. You may be able to criticise their style but you can't fault their commitment.

"We are capable of playing good, bad and run-of-the-mill football but the team has grown in confidence and we feel strong for the remaining few games."

Osasuna travel to meet Atletico Madrid tonight and Racing Santander on May 7 before finishing at home against Valencia on May 14.

Real Madrid beat Osasuna

Posted at 1:16 PM, May 1, 2006

Osasuna  were looking for a win that would take them above Real Madrid in the Spanish Primera Liga standings when they hosted the third placed Merengues at the Reyno de Navarra Stadium on Sunday night.
The home side went closest to scoring in the first half, but Ludovic Delporte's 37th minute curling free kick hit a goal post before the danger was cleared.
Real were awarded a penalty kick just five minutes into the second half after Julio Baptista's run into the penalty area was halted by Raul Garcia's ill-advised lunge.
Brazilian Baptista gathered the ball and fired his penalty kick high into Ricardo's goal to put the visitors 1-0 ahead in the 51st minute.
As the Real players celebrated by the corner flag, some of the Osasuna fans began to throw objects on to the pitch.
A small metal jug, which could have caused serious harm, narrowly missed Baptista and his teammates.
Osasuna were offered an opportunity to pull level in the 63rd minute when Pierre Webo won a penalty kick - the Cameroonian going down in the box after coming together with former Osasuna defender Pablo Garcia.
Francisco Punal's spot kick was punched away by Iker Casillas though and Michel Salgado turned the ball over his own crossbar from close range after Webo drove it back into the danger area.
Salgado came to his teams rescue in the 79th minute, diving in at the back post to block Delporte's goal bound shot.
Osasuna's desperate search for an equaliser was given a boost in the 81st minute when Casillas needlessly came out of his goal to head the ball away from Webo.
The ball went out for a throw in before Casillas booted it away.
The Spanish international had already been booked and the referee had little choice but to show a second yellow card and send Casillas off.
However, his replacement, Diego Lopez, had little to do in the remaining minutes of normal time, and a considerable stretch of injury time.
Roberto Carlos, who was booed throughout by the Osasuna crowd, almost made it 2-0 to Real in injury time, but one of his trademark long range free kicks was stopped by Ricardo.
That free kick was awarded after Baptista was scythed down by Mohamed El Yaagoubi and although the Brazilian was still on the pitch as the final whistle blew, his World Cup aspirations could be effected by injury.
Real won a bad tempered game 1-0 to close to within two points of Valencia, who beat Alaves 3-0 earlier in the day to consolidate second place and move a step closer to automatic qualification into the group stage of next season's Champions League.
Osasuna slipped to four points behind third place Real in the league standings.

Zidane relishes one last challenge

Posted at 9:28 AM, April 27, 2006

Zinedine Zidane said Wednesday he decided to retire because he's not playing up to his standards, but promised he will be "highly motivated" for the World Cup finals.

"It's something I've been thinking about, it's not a decision of one day," the France midfielder told a packed news conference at Real Madrid's training ground.

"Besides, I want Real Madrid to make plans next season and look for an alternative if they want to do so."

The three-time FIFA world player of the year had announced his decision to quit after the finals, in Germany, on Tuesday.

"In these last two years I haven't felt at ease, I haven't played the way I wanted," Zidane said Wednesday. "I'm not 25 anymore. Each day it's more difficult, I have more pains.

"I don't want to be here just for the sake of being here. I've always done everything to win and I'm not doing that lately."

Zidane, who had another year to run on his contract with Madrid, will turn 34 during the June 9-July 9 World Cup.

"To finish my career after the World Cup is something very special," he said.

"I'm going to be highly motivated, I just hope I don't have any physical problems. It's going to be really difficult to win the World Cup but we have a great team."

Zidane's final appearance for Real Madrid is likely to be the team's game at Sevilla on May 13 or 14.

He said he would bid farewell to Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the previous week in a home game against Villarreal.

The midfield playmaker is suspended for Madrid's next game, against Osasuna , on Sunday.

Zidane said he would like to work with Real Madrid's junior teams after his retirement and also help promote the image of the club worldwide.

"I don't know if we can use the word 'ambassador' but it's something I would like to do," he said. "I'll stay and live in Spain." Zidane, voted FIFA's world player of the year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, has delighted spectators for 16 years with his silky midfield skills, extraordinary ball control and timing.

He started his career with Cannes before moving in 1992 to Bordeaux, which he helped to the UEFA Cup final in his last season.

Zidane made the first of 99 international appearances for France on Aug. 17, 1994, coming on as a substitute against the Czech Republic and scoring both goals to salvage a 2-2 draw.

His transfer to Juventus in 1996 elevated him into Europe's soccer elite. He won Italian league winners medals in his first two seasons.

"I've spent five years at Juventus and five at Real Madrid, the two most important clubs in the world," Zidane said.

Zidane moved to Madrid in 2001 for a world record transfer fee of euro53 million ($65m) and his perfectly timed volley for the winning goal against Bayer Leverkusen brought Madrid its record ninth European Champions Cup.

The following year, he helped the team win the Spanish league for a record 29th time.

Since then, Zidane has been unable to prevent Madrid's slide. Under five different coaches, the club has failed to win a trophy in the last three seasons, its worst streak since the early 1950s.

"We lost a lot when we lost Claude Makelele, he had done an awful lot in this club," Zidane said, referring to the French midfielder who was sold to Chelsea following a salary disagreement.

Zidane, who has scored 28 international goals, retired from international soccer after the 2004 European championships but returned a year later to boost the team's successful bid to qualify for this year's finals in Germany.

He will join Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly as the only men to play 100 games for France if he stays fit.

He will achieve the milestone at home in a World Cup warmup against Mexico on May 27.

Zidane scored with two headers in a 3-0 win in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil at the Stade de France. In 2000, he scored on a penalty as France beat Portugal in the semifinals en route to its second European title.

Zidane carried an injury at the 2002 World Cup as France became the first defending champion to be eliminated in the first round.

"Football has given me everything," Zidane said.

OSASUNA SLIP UP AT HOME

Posted at 7:46 AM, April 18, 2006

Champions League-chasing Osasuna  dropped two points at home against bottom side Malaga who finished the game with just nine men in Pamplona.

With expectations growing in the city which is famous for its staging of the Running of the Bulls every July, home fans had expected three points as they attempt to take a strong grip on a top four place.

They led after a Francisco Punal first-half penalty but Malaga equalised nine minutes from time through Chengue Morales.

The goalscorer was hurt shortly after and had to come off with his club having already used all three substitutes, and Salva was then booked twice in the space of a minute to leave the visitors with nine players, but they managed to hold on.

Osasuna threatened in the 12th minute with Pierre Webo connected with a pass from Moha but his header went wide.

Not long after and it was Josexto's turn but when he attempted to nod his side into the lead after a free-kick by Javier Flano, the header was blocked and deflected inside the area by a defender.

Josexto again caused danger when he moved forward on a corner by Moha.

The ball flew in from his team-mate but the shot again was wide.

On the half-hour, Serbo-Montenegrin Savo Milosevic had a chance to head the home side into the lead from David Lopez's free-kick but he could not get the attempt on target.

Osasuna had applied the majority of pressure up to this point and they were finally rewarded when Nacho brought down Lopez in the area.

The referee pointed to the spot and Punal converted, sending the ball into the top left of the net.

Malaga had been relatively quiet but three minutes before half-time Ricardo Bovio hit a direct free-kick on goal that was saved by Juan Elia in the Osasuna goal.

Osasuna and their fans had reason to feel good about the team's chances but Malaga started to come more into the game eight minutes after the restart.

Juan Rodriguez's left-footed shot tested Elia again but he made the save.

Malaga were unlucky in the 64th minute when Nacho's left-foot shot after a pass from Alexis Ruano hit the post, but it didn't bounce the right way and went out.

Bovio caused some worry in the home defence twice in succession.

After being fed by Gabriel, his shot was blocked by the defence inside the area and then he latched on to a corner by Nacho but it was saved by Elia.

In the 75th minute, Moha got the ball inside the area and struck a powerful shot but was just wide.

In the 81st minute, Malaga finally pulled level with Morales.

Salva sent the ball into the area from the left wing and Morales got to it and sent it into the bottom right of the net.

Malaga lost Morales to the injury and then Salva to the double yellow - he was booked twice for a confrontation with Cesar Cruchaga who was also given a yellow card.

Malaga ended up with most of the possession and did well not to let Osasuna slip through in the last part of the game as they were outnumbered.

Osasuna are fourth but still have work to do if they are to play in Europe's elite club competition next season.

La Liga Roundup, Apr. 1

Posted at 12:23 PM, April 6, 2006

Ronaldinho converted a penalty but Ronaldo equalized in a 1-1 draw between Spanish league leader FC Barcelona and a 10-man Real Madrid on Saturday. 

The result at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium left Barca 11 points atop the standings and requiring 10 points from its last seven games to retain its title.

Second-place Madrid, which looks set to end a third straight season without a trophy, played the last 65 minutes with 10 men following the ejection of Roberto Carlos for two yellow cards.

In other 31st-round games, Villarreal edged Zaragoza 1-0 to climb to seventh place, while Real Sociedad eased its relegation fears by beating fellow struggler Malaga 3-0.

Barcelona has 69 points, followed by Madrid with 58 and Osasuna  with 55. Valencia is next with 53 points, while Sevilla has 51.

On Sunday, it's: Osasuna vs. Getafe, Valencia vs. Cadiz, Real Betis vs. Sevilla, Deportivo La Coruna vs. Racing Santander, Alaves vs. Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca vs. Espanyol, and Atletico Madrid vs. Celta Vigo.

Madrid captain Raul, who has played against Barcelona 29 times, was omitted from the team's starting lineup. The Spain striker has struggled since returning last month from the serious knee injury he sustained during November's 3-0 defeat by the Catalan team.

Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel missed his side's first chance in the fourth minute with a chip over goalkeeper Iker Casillas which went just wide in the fourth minute.

Van Bommel was involved again in the 20th minute when he won Barcelona's penalty by being felled by Roberto Carlos' sliding tackle.

The Brazilian left back received a yellow card for protesting just before Ronaldinho sent Casillas the wrong way with his seventh penalty of the season. It was Ronaldinho's fourth goal in four matches against Madrid.

Real waiting on Beckham

Posted at 10:40 AM, April 5, 2006

David Beckham is doubtful for Real Madrid's game against Real Sociedad this weekend after missing training on Wednesday. 

The England captain, according to Real's official website, suffered a knock on the ribs and will be evaluated later in the week.

Coach Juan Lopez Caro is hoping the midfielder recovers in time for Saturday as Zinedine Zidane is already out of action due to a thigh injury.

Madrid, after last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Barcelona, are second in the Primera Liga but just two points clear of Valencia and three in front of Osasuna.

Second place guarantees an automatic place in next season's Champions League while the sides that finish third and fourth will enter the qualifying round for Europe's elite club competition.

Barca draw with Malaga, Osasuna lose in Bilbao

Posted at 12:11 PM, March 27, 2006

Barcelona's march towards the Primera Liga title slowed on Saturday after a goalless draw at bottom side Malaga, although second-placed Osasuna failed to capitalise they lost 1-0 away to Athletic Bilbao.

With an eye on Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final away to Benfica Barca coach Frank Rijkaard sent out an experimental lineup that dominated but was never really convincing.

Barca had a goal ruled out in the first half and Samuel Eto'o hit the bar at the end, while Malaga goalkeeper Francesc Arnau made a string of impressive saves.

The draw saw leaders Barcelona move 13 points clear of Osasuna on 68 points after Bilbao defender Luis Prieto headed the only goal of the game in an intense encounter in San Mames.

Both sides finished with 10 men after Osasuna's Ludovic Delporte and Bilbao's Ismael Urzaiz were sent off at the end.

Third-placed Real Madrid, on 54 points, are at home to Deportivo Coruna on Sunday when Valencia, a further point behind in fourth, visit fifth-placed Sevilla.

Earlier, two first half goals from Brazilian striker Robert gave Real Betis a surprise 2-1 win at eighth-placed Villarreal.

Robert scored a superb diving header, and then pounced on an error in the defence for the second.

Villarreal, who travel to Inter Milan in a Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, pulled a goal back through Argentine midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin 11 minutes from time and were denied a penalty in the last move of the game.

The win dragged an improving Betis five points above the relegation zone up to 13th, level with Bilbao on 33 points.

GOAL DISALLOWED

Barcelona had an unfamiliar look about them in Malaga with Ronaldinho rested, captain Carles Puyol suspended, and Edmilson, Rafael Marquez and Lionel Messi injured.

Rijkaard even left Deco on the bench and it showed as Barca laboured throughout against a side battling to avoid relegation.

Arnau saved well at his far post from Henrik Larsson's close range header early on, but chances were hard to come by in the first half.

Malaga were keen to test the visitors' rookie central defensive pairing of Oleguer and Rodri, and after 29 minutes Fernando Sanz rose to head straight at Victor Valdes as they struggled to clear a cross.

Seven minutes before the break Eto'o put the ball in the net as a free kick broke free in the Malaga area, but the referee ruled it out for a handball by Larsson in the build up when the ball in fact struck Malaga defender Cesar Navas on the arm.

Arnau denied Giuly, Larsson and Eto'o early in the second half as Barca stepped up a gear but Malaga steadily grew in confidence as the game opened out.

A nervy final few minutes saw Eto'o draw a fine save from Arnau while Duda replied at the other end, forcing Valdes to scramble across to his far post to save a shot from distance.

In injury time an attempted clearance in the Malaga area ballooned into the air and Eto'o let fly with a fierce volley that crashed against the bar and bounced out to be cleared.

Barcelona defeated at Osasuna with two players being dismissed

Posted at 12:54 PM, March 13, 2006

Spanish first division soccer leaders Barcelona had two players sent off during a 2-1 defeat at fourth-placed Osasuna yesterday.
The visitors went 1-0 down when Valdo cashed in on a goalkeeping error and Osasuna captain Patxi Punal added a second from the penalty spot after Edmilson was sent off for bringing down Savo Milosevic.
Substitute Henrik Larsson pulled a goal back 18 minutes from time but could not prevent Barcelona suffering their fourth league defeat of the season. Thiago Motta was also dismissed in injury time for a foul on substitute Pierre Webo.
Champions Barcelona remain nine points clear of Valencia and Real Madrid, who drew 0-0 at the Mestalla on Saturday after Ronaldo missed a last-minute penalty for the visitors.
Barcelona have 61 points with 11 games left. Osasuna are on 49, four clear of Celta Vigo who lost 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday.
Relegation-threatened Alaves put the brakes on Sevilla's drive for a Champions League berth despite having two players sent off in the closing stages of their 2-1 home win over the Andalucians. The defeat left Sevilla five points adrift of Osasuna and one ahead of Villarreal, who were held 1-1 at Real Mallorca.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao scrambled a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Cadiz despite having defender Fernando Amorebieta sent off in the 18th minute.
Six points separate the bottom seven teams with Malaga bringing up the rear on 22 points after their 1-1 draw at Real Betis. Cadiz have 25 points with Betis, Alaves and Bilbao all on 26. Mallorca have 27 and Real Sociedad 28.

Celta threatens Osasuna's territory

Posted at 12:57 PM, March 9, 2006

Celta trails Osasuna  by only one point after defeating the fourth place club 2-0, at Vigo on Sunday, in La Liga play.

The home side minimized its gap in the fifth minute when striker Fernando Baiano picked up a loose ball just outside the penalty area and fired into the top right corner of the net, giving Celta the 1-0 lead.

Osasuna controlled the remainder of the first half when midfielder Valmiro Valdo shot just wide of Celta's net. Francisco Punalalso also came close to scoring after his volley went over the Galicians' net.

Celta then doubled its lead 19 minutes from time when midfielder Fabian Canobbio outshined Osasuna goalkeeper Juan Elia.

The match marked Osasuna's second consecutive league defeat.

In other La Liga action on Sunday: Getafe striker Veljko Paunovic scored to shut out Real Betis1-0, giving his team its first victory in six games; Racing Santander and Mallorca had a scoreless match, along with Malaga and Valencia; Host Real Sociedad suffered a 1-3 loss to Zaragoza; Sevilla slid past Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

On Saturday: Cadiz handed Espanyol a 2-0 loss; Villarreal beat Alaves 3-2; Barcelona received its 19th La Liga win after defeating Deportivo 3-2; Real Madrid captured a much needed win over rival Atletico Madrid in Saturday's derby.

Osasuna drop first home points of season against Racing

Posted at 2:03 PM, February 28, 2006

Second-placed Osasuna  dropped their first home points of the season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Racing Santander in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

French midfielder Ludovic Delporte put Osasuna in front on the half hour with a marvellous curling free kick, but Santander striker Antonito poached an equaliser on the stroke of halftime that put an end to the Navarrans' perfect home record.

The result means Barcelona are assured of the symbolic title of winter champions given to the team that leads the standings at the halfway mark in the season.

The Spanish champions continued their imperious progress with a 2-1 victory over city rivals Espanyol on Saturday to chalk up their 15th straight win in all competitions.

Barca lead the table with 43 points from 18 games, Osasuna are four points back on 39, seven ahead of third-placed Deportivo Coruna who won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Valencia have a chance to leapfrog the Galicians if they beat out-of-sorts Atletico Madrid in one of Sunday's late matches, with Real Madrid facing a tricky game at Villarreal.

China Lost Opener to Spain's Osasuna

Posted at 2:05 PM, January 25, 2006

The national soccer team lost their opening match of the current overseas trip in Spain.

In a match held early Tuesday morning (Beijing Time), China took on the Spanish La Liga side Osasuna, second on the League rankings.

China opened strong and made their first attempt just two minutes into the game. However, the shot was blocked by the Spanish goal keeper.

Osasuna  returned a strong shot two minutes later. The shot was also blocked by the Chinese goalie.

A freezing weather has made the pitch very hard, causing much trouble to the Chinese players. They missed several chances because of the poor pitch condition.

Meanwhile, the Spaniards were too strong to handle as they launched successive attacks.

China tumbled to wade off the attacks and kept the net clear at half time.

In the middle of the second half, the Spaniards finally got their chance and hit the Chinese net at 65 minutes.

1-0, the score was kept until the end of the game.

China are expected to take on Angola during New Year's holidays.