Osasuna Returns to European Football, Faces Club Brugge in Conference League Play-Off
Spanish football club Osasuna is set to make its comeback to European football after a long absence since 2007. They will be facing Belgian side Club Brugge in the first leg of the play-offs of the Conference League on Thursday.
Osasuna secured a respectable seventh-place finish in the Spanish league last season, but their spot in the Conference League was uncertain due to an investigation into match-fixing allegations from the 2013-2014 La Liga season.
Initially, the club was excluded from the competition, but they successfully appealed the decision. However, they were fined 100,000 euros and had to forfeit five percent of their income from the group stage if they qualified, as reported by Xinhua.
It was determined by UEFA that the match-fixing was orchestrated by the club’s former directors, some of whom have been sentenced to prison in Spain.
Osasuna enters this match after a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo in their La Liga season opener, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Athletic Club Bilbao the following weekend.
Winger Kike Barja, who missed the last weekend’s match due to a minor muscle issue, is expected to be fit for Thursday’s game. Coach Jagoba Arrasate plans to field his strongest lineup.
On the other hand, Club Brugge is currently leading the Belgian league with three wins and one draw from four matches. They advanced to the preliminary round with an impressive 10-2 aggregate victory over Icelandic team Knattspyrnufelag Akureyrar.
Club Brugge’s European history includes reaching the last-16 of the Champions League in the previous season, coming out of a group that eliminated both Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid.
With the second leg set to take place in Belgium the following week, predicting the outcome of this tie is challenging. However, it would be somewhat ironic if Osasuna faltered at this initial stage after their athletic and legal battles to return to European competition after 16 years.
This eagerly anticipated match will determine which team progresses to the next stage of the Conference League and presents an opportunity for Osasuna to make their mark on the European stage once again. Football enthusiasts around the world will be watching closely to see if Osasuna can overcome the odds and secure a victory against Club Brugge.
