Sports Mole assesses Osasuna's chances of avoiding relegation in the new La Liga season.
After spending 12 years in the top flight of Spanish football, Osasuna came close to dropping out of La Liga following a poor campaign last season.
The club did manage to secure their league status, eventually finishing in 16th position, but their struggles in the latter part of the season were there for all to see.
Here, Sports Mole discusses whether they could find themselves in trouble come the end of next season.
In: Miguel de las Cuevas (Sporting Gijon), Oriol Riera (Alcorcon), Jordan Loties (Nancy), Joan Oriol (Villarreal)
Out: Kike Sola (Athletic Bilbao), Ricardo (Retired), Masoud Shojaei (Released), Nacho Zabal (Huesca), Nano (Alaves), Xavier Annunziata (Real Oviedo), Ruben Gonzalez (Baku), David Timor (Girona – Loan)
Last season: 16th
Manager: Jose Luis Mendilibar
Three key players:
© AP Photos
Alejandro Arribas: Osasuna scored just 33 goals in their 38 league games last season, comfortably the worst record in the division. They were just able to keep their head above water with some tight defensive displays, however, with Arribas at the centre of their solidarity. The 24-year-old started his career with Rayo Vallecano, eventually progressing into the B team in 2008, where he made 47 appearances over the course of two seasons. He made the step up into the senior squad in 2010, appearing another 74 times. He departed Rayo on a free transfer in June 2012, however, with Osasuna picking up the versatile defender. He appeared in all but four of their league games last season, firmly establishing himself in the team. If Osasuna are to survive the drop once more, then they will need the Spaniard on top form in the new campaign.
© PA Photos
Emiliano Armenteros: The 27-year-old picked up quite a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder during a loan spell with Rayo Vallecano in 2010, where he struck an incredible 20 goals in 37 games from a deep position. The left-winger started his career with Banfield, before eventually moving to Spain with Sevilla in 2007. It took him one season to break into the first team at the club, but he made just 17 league appearances over four seasons, spending much of his spell on loan. Osasuna picked up the Argentine in the summer of 2012, however, with the midfielder making 30 league appearances last season. It didn't quite happen for Armenteros in terms of goals last season, registering just three times in the league, but if he gets the service, there is no question that he has the capabilities and indeed ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
© Getty Images
Miguel de las Cuevas: The 27-year-old's versatility was one of the main reasons why Osasuna decided to acquire the Spaniard's services on a permanent contract this summer. De las Cuevas started his career with Hercules, before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2006. It didn't quite happen over the three seasons for the midfielder, however, with a move to Sporting Gijon developing in 2009. His career took off from that moment, with 18 goals in just over 100 league games for the club. Osasuna picked up his services on loan in January this year, with De las Cuevas featuring on 16 occasions for the La Liga outfit before making the move permanent this summer. The fact that he can operate at left-back, left-wing or as an attacking midfielder certainly makes him a key part of the squad for the upcoming season.
First game: Granada (H) Aug 18
Sports Mole says: Of Osasuna's 33 league goals last season, Kike Sola scored nine of them. They will not be able to call upon the 27-year-old's services this season, however, with the Spaniard departing to join Athletic Bilbao this summer. Aside from three top-half finishes over their last 13 seasons in La Liga, Osasuna have mainly been a mid-table team in the division, but not one that was ever really threatened with relegation. They finished seventh in the 2011-2012 campaign, but struggled last season with 16th position just keeping them in the division. It was not too difficult to see that scoring goals was their problem last season and you just worry whether they have done enough in the transfer market to quell some of those fears. They have not played second-tier football in Spain since 1999, but they face a long, hard slog this time around.
Predicted finish: 18th
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