Huesca's Copa exit to Osasuna offers silver lining for Segunda strugglers
Despite Copa del Rey elimination, SD Huesca's spirited performance against Primera División Osasuna has given Antonio Bolo's men renewed confidence ahead of their clash with league leaders Racing Santander.
Huesca’s Copa exit to Osasuna offers silver lining for Segunda strugglers
The Aragonese side may have bowed out of the Copa del Rey, but their performance against top-flight opposition has injected fresh belief into their Segunda División campaign.
Pushing Osasuna to the limit
Huesca might’ve been shown the door in the Copa del Rey’s round of 32 yesterday, but they made Primera División Osasuna work their socks off for the privilege. The Segunda outfit dragged the Pamplona-based side all the way to extra time, forcing them to deploy their big guns – including Ante Budimir, who eventually scored the fourth goal to settle the tie.
Bolo’s boys put in a proper shift against their higher-ranked opponents, showing the kind of bottle that’s been missing from their league form. The gaffer couldn’t hide his pride post-match, despite the elimination:
“I’m proud of my team and our supporters,” Bolo reflected after the match.
Confidence boost ahead of tough test
The spirited cup display, coming hot on the heels of their victory against Cultural Leonesa, has reinforced Bolo’s footballing philosophy at Huesca and given the squad a much-needed confidence boost. Rather than licking their wounds, they’re now looking ahead to Saturday’s clash against Racing Santander with renewed belief.
What makes this newfound confidence particularly valuable is the calibre of their upcoming opponents. Racing currently sit pretty at the top of the Segunda table and have just pulled off their own cup upset by knocking out Villarreal. But rather than bricking it, Huesca now fancy their chances a bit more.
Team news
The only potential spanner in the works for Saturday’s fixture is the fitness of Óscar Sielva, who missed the Osasuna clash with muscular discomfort. His availability remains up in the air, with a final decision to be made after their last training session before the match.
If Sielva fails to recover in time, expect Portillo and Jesús Álvarez to form the double pivot in midfield, the same partnership that served them well against Cultural Leonesa.
Huesca will be hoping to end the year on a high note at El Alcoraz, with their Copa performance suggesting they might have more in the tank than their league position indicates.