Osasuna vs Barcelona preview - Barca looking for treble
Posted Sunday, August 26, 2012 by PA
Barcelona will be hoping to make it three wins in a week when they visit Osasuna.
A 5-1 opening-day demolition of Real Sociedad was followed by a 3-2 Spanish Supercopa first-leg victory over Real Madrid on Thursday evening as Tito Vilanova made an ideal start to his tenure after taking over from Pep Guardiola.
Osasuna finished seventh last year - 37 points behind their second-placed visitors - missing out on Europe by a single point but they went down 2-0 to Deportivo la Coruna last week.
Xavi is in his 15th season at the Nou Camp and has no intention of leaving the club who he believes are well-placed to wrest back the title from Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.
He told reporters: "To us, what gives us confidence is that the team is good.
"We're fine physically with confidence. We were better than Real Madrid. We feel good and confident. To us, it gives us confidence is that the team is good."
Of his own longevity, Xavi said: "Remain important for the team and add titles. I only ask to be useful and to have a great season. You feel proud of the work you have done but football has no memory and you must demonstrate it every day."
Osasuna striker Nino has no illusions as to the size of the task facing them.
"It's the same game, the same players, the same ownership and the same hunger.
"You have to be 100% or more and hope they do not have such a good day.
"We must try to remove the ball and do not let them have much possession.
"Also take opportunities that we have to hurt them."
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