Osasuna vs Sporting de Gijon - Osasuna hit by injuries

Posted Sunday, September 11, 2011 by PA

Osasuna got off to a fine start with a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in week one of the Spanish season, but injuries will force coach Josi Luis Mendilibar to make changes for the visit of Sporting Gijon.

Asier Riesgo had to replaced at half-time at the Calderon and Javad Nekounam picked up a knee injury when away with Iran on international duty over the past week.

Andres Fernandez is expected to deputise in goal as he did with distinction in the second-half against Atleti and Raul Garcia will make his first appearance since re-signing with the club in place of Nekounam.

Roland Lamah is also expected to get his first start after impressing in a 3-2 friendly victory over Numancia in midweek, with David Timor the one to lose his place on the left side of midfield.

Sporting will also make changes from their defeat at home to Real Sociedad on the opening day.

Gaston Sangoy and Oscar Trejo are expected to be rewarded with starts after making a positive impression from the bench against Sociedad, with Nacho Novo and Diego Barral dropping out, whilst Damian Suarez will replace the suspended Alberto Lora at right-back.

Sangoy is keen to take his opportunity from the start and does not believe there is too much reason to panic after the opening day defeat.

He said: "We've only played one game of a league that is very long and there are many challenges ahead.

"The truth is that the other day against Sociedad we started slowly in the first half, then we improved in the second half, but it wasn't enough and we ended up losing a very important match at home.

"Hopefully we can fine-tune our performance a bit in order to take the chances we will have in a difficult place to go to like Osasuna."