Sevilla vs Osasuna preview - Punal wary of Sevilla hoodoo

Posted Saturday, October 26, 2013 by PA

Osasuna captain Patxi Punal has warned his side they will need to be on top of their game if they want to get anything out of this weekend's trip to Sevilla and end their miserable recent record at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

In their last seven visits to Sevilla, Osasuna have claimed just one point and scored only two goals, while they have to go back to the 2005/06 season for their last victory in this away fixture.

With Sevilla also unbeaten in their last five home matches going into Sunday's game, winning four of them, Punal is well aware of what Osasuna can expect in Andalusia.

"It's not going to be easy, none of the matches are and this even less so. It's going to be tough," he told reporters.

"It's one of those stadiums where if you don't have a good game it is very difficult to get anything."

Osasuna go into the 10th round of Primera Division fixtures stuck in the bottom three but with confidence on the rise after taking an unexpected four-point haul from their last two matches, beating Malaga away and then holding Barcelona to a goalless draw last time out.

That brought to an end Barca's 100 per cent start to the season and Punal hopes they can build on that result in the upcoming matches..

Punal added: "We're still in the relegation places and now we have four important games. The two at home are against direct rivals (Rayo Vallecano and Almeria) and the two away are against tough teams (Sevilla and Real Sociedad).

"Sevilla are a team with high-quality players."

One thing Osasuna will need to do on Sunday is make sure they are focused right until the final whistle, with late goals becoming a regular feature in Sevilla matches.

In their last three matches, Sevilla have beaten Almeria with a 90th-minute goal, squandered a 2-0 lead against Real Valladolid with nine minutes left to draw 2-2, and on Thursday notched an 88th-minute equaliser to salvage a 1-1 Europa League draw at Slovan Liberec.

That result left Unai Emery's men top of Group H with seven points, and stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games.

Midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo is hoping to continue that form in the midday (local time) kick-off against Osasuna, telling SFC TV: "It's an important game, as they all are, and we're really looking forward to it. They are difficult games to play in but we're going to try and win it."