Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao
Osasuna
vs
Saturday 19th December 2009
Venue: San Mames
Kick-off: 17:00
Score: 2 - 0
Cup clash will have no bearing - Azpilicueta
Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta does not believe Athletic Bilbao's Europa League humbling at the hands of Werder Bremen in midweek will have any influence on the Primera Division clash between the two northern rivals at San Mames.
Athletic were defeated 3-0 in front of their own fans by Bremen on Wednesday after shipping all three goals in the opening 36 minutes, and that result meant the Basque side were forced to settle for second place in Europa League Group L.
However, there were extenuating circumstances that put that result into better context.
Not only had Athletic already qualified for the last-32 along with Bremen prior to the game, thus eliminating the concern of potentially being knocked out of Europe, but Joaquin Caparros' side were also plagued by absentees.
Spain internationals Fernando Llorente - the leading scorer in the group stages with six goals - and Andoni Iraola were among those missing, leading Caparros to start with 16-year-old rising star Iker Muniain up front, 17-year-old Jon Aurtenetxe at left-back and another 16-year-old, Jonas Ramalho, on the bench.
As such, Azpilicueta doubts that encounter will have much of a bearing on this weekend's fixture.
"They were already qualified and we cannot use that match as a reference for Saturday," said the Spain Under-21 international.
"This is going to be a very difficult game, because Athletic are a very serious team who commit few errors. As such, neither can we afford to commit any errors if we want to bring back the three points."
Osasuna have won just six times in 32 visits to Athletic, and last season lost 2-0 there.
However, the Pamplona-based side got some measure of revenge in the return meeting when they downed their rivals 2-1 at home.
Locally-born Azpilicueta said: "It's one of the big games of the season. It's also the last game of the year and we want finish by giving a good image of ourselves and getting a result that will help us go into 2010 with calm.
"It's a special game, because most of us know each other. But on the pitch the friendships will be forgotten. There are no excuses."
Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho, whose side are 11th in the Primera Division standings, is without the injured Nacho Monreal, Ludovic Delporte, Carlos Aranda and Walter Pandiani for the short trip north.
Athletic's European defeat to Bremen was a blip in an otherwise good run of recent form for Caparros' side, who have climbed up to seventh in La Liga after taking 13 points out of a possible 18 in their last six games.
Striker Gaizka Toquero, whose team today drew Anderlecht in the last 32 of the Europa League, is hoping they can end the year on a high note.
He said: "We want to finish with a victory at San Mames and put ourselves on 26 points in the table, which would be something very good.
"It would mean we can continue our good form in the league and give us confidence."
Ion Velez has undergone an operation and will miss the visit of Osasuna, while Aitor Ocio remains sidelined and Fernando Amorebieta and Markel Susaeta are suspended.
