Osasuna are just a couple of steps away from a historic first Copa del Rey title, but while exciting, it’s not been an easy ride to the semi-finals for the side from Pamplona. El Sadar was finally sent into raptures following a 99th-minute Abde Ezzalzouli goal against Sevilla (2-1) during the quarter finals, in what was their third consecutive Copa del Rey game to go beyond regulation time.
Ironically, it was Ezzalzouli who claimed the match-winner at the weekend against none-other-than Sevilla yet again, as Osasuna finally ended a four-game winless competitive run that followed that quarter-final success (D2, L2). That win kept Osasuna on the coat-tails of La Liga’s (LL) top six, and the squad may start seeing parallels between themselves and the club’s golden era in the mid-2000s, in which Osasuna reached their only Copa del Rey final (2004/05) and last participated in UEFA competition (2006/07).
In their way are 23-time Copa del Rey winners Athletic Bilbao, yet while they reached the final as recently as 2020/21, the club last lifted the trophy back in 1983/84. The visitors at least have the advantage of winning five of their last six competitive trips to Osasuna (L1), but have been recently bruised by losing their last two LL fixtures by single-goal margins.
While that recent form is worrying considering the importance of this first leg, at the Athletic Bilbao reins is a man with plenty of cup success across his 40-year involvement in professional football. Manager Ernesto Valverde won this very trophy with Barcelona both as a player (1989/90) and manager (2017/18), in addition to several other various cup titles. He’ll now need to draw on that experience in a match between two clubs that are separated by just one point in the top half of the LL standings, and with a potentially decisive LL meeting coming up in May, cup progression for either could be a huge morale boost at the season’s business end.
Players to watch: Defender David García has popped up with goals in two of Osasuna last three competitive victories. He was in the squad during Athletic Bilbao last win at El Sadar which came courtesy of an Oihan Sancet hat-trick (W 3-1), and with four goals from his last four games, Sancet could threaten again.
Hot streak: Osasuna have conceded in their last seven Copa del Rey matches.
