FC Barcelona now must face the big task of taking on CA Osasuna in the Spanish Super Cup. Their ultimate goal remains to win the entire competition as a whole, but that comes with a first step. For Barcelona, Osasuna will provide that massive hurdle that they will first have to overcome.
With Real Madrid already waiting in the final for a potential El Clasico to wrap up the competition, Barça will undoubtedly be motivated. However, the motivation from Jagoba Arrasate’s team will be no less frustrating to deal with.
As such, Mundo Deportivo has highlighted five things about Osasuna that could potentially harm FC Barcelona. These factors will be something that Barça would be wise to keep in mind and have counter-measures against.
1: Budimir
Without a doubt, Ante Budimir is the primary target man for Osasuna. The Croatian forward loves to take in the service he receives and can create a lot of danger from almost nothing at first. The central pairing that Xavi ends up deploying for his Barcelona team will need to remain extremely vigilant about Osasuna’s striker.
2: Exploiting the wings
While Osasuna’s primary winger, Chimy Avila, will likely not be a prominent opponent in the clash, they also have other talents. The likes of Moi Gomez, Arnaix, Ruben García, and Kike Barja are all quite deadly on the flanks. Moreover, it is not just their service that will need to be stopped but also their own danger as direct goal threats.
3: Osasuna’s pressure
Unlike other teams that will casually just play a low block and let opponents have possession, Osasuna has a slightly altered philosophy. While they are more than capable of bringing numbers behind, they like to put opponents in more uncomfortable positions.
Their pressure is some of the most frustrating stuff to deal with when it comes to Spanish sides. Breaking that early wave of pressure will thus be key for FC Barcelona.
4: Commitment to the cause
Osasuna is a team that does not like to linger when it comes to instructions. Rather than deploying a complicated and layered set of instructions, Arrasate prefers to keep things simple. However, that simple set of instructions is then followed through to extreme lengths. Barcelona would be wise to remain alert at all times.
5: Avoiding extra time
Whereas their opponents may be likely to get fatigued, Osasuna are one of Spain’s most physical adversaries. Despite their own flaws, they hardly ever let an opponent out-muscle them.
Even heading into extra-time, Osasuna is capable of remaining sharp while others falter. For this reason, the earlier Barcelona wraps this game up, the better for them.
