Villarreal vs Osasuna preview - Marcelino enjoys home comforts

Posted Monday, February 03, 2014 by PA

Marcelino wants Villarreal to continue their good home form when they meet Osasuna in the Primera Division on Monday.

The Yellow Submarine have beaten Real Sociedad and Almeria in their last two home matches but lost to Real Valladolid away last weekend.

Manager Marcelino said on villarrealcf.es: "We want to add a third straight win in the league at El Madrigal. In Valladolid we played b b a bad game, although we believe that the fairest thing would have been a draw.

"Osasuna have a good defence and they get a lot of people behind the ball. But they have a good level of mobility, especially in attack with Oriol Riera, who will try to put us in a great many difficulties.

"We must be very focused and intense to try to play our game."

Villarreal will be without injured captain Bruno Soriano but new signing Juan Roman could make his debut.

Roman joined the club this week on loan from Barcelona along with Oliver Torres, who was loaned by Atletico Madrid but is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

Marcelino said: "The winter market does not give you many options and we prefer to sign players who know our league.

"They are two very good young players who can hopefully have a good performance and will serve to provide greater competition to the group."

Villarreal sit in fifth place and will be favoured to beat Osasuna, who are only five places off the bottom and were beaten 5-1 at home by Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

Boss Javi Gracia spent four years as a player at Villarreal and three as a coach, and he said on his club's official website osasuna.es: "It's always special. These were years of my life that I remember with love.

"They are a newly-promoted team but with the potential to be where they are and they are likely to fight for those European places."