UEFA Conference League

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Europa Conference League | Playoffs | 1st Leg

Aug 24, 2023 at 7.30pm UK

Estadio El Sadar

Osasuna
1 - 2
Brugge

(Club Brugge win 4-3 on aggregate)

Avila (78')
Mojica (29'), Garcia (37')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Skov Olsen (50'), De Cuyper (80')
Buchanan (45+3'), Onyedika (51'), Thiago (52'), Skov Olsen (67'), Mignolet (88')

Preview: Osasuna vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

By Ben Sully | 22 August 2023

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa Conference League clash between Osasuna and Club Brugge, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Osasuna and Club Brugge will both be vying for a place in the Europa Conference League group stage when they face off in the playoff round.

The Spanish side will have home advantage for the first leg, which takes place at the usually vociferous El Sadar.

Match preview

Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate before the match on May 2, 2023 © Reuters

After spending 16 years away from UEFA competition, Osasuna are finally set to end their long wait for European football after finishing in seventh place last season.

There was doubt over the summer as to whether Jagoba Arrasate's side would be able to take their spot on the European stage after they were initially banned by UEFA for a match-fixing scandal that took place in the 2013-14 season.

Osasuna subsequently submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration (CAS), arguing that the current administration had not been involved in the scandal and notified authorities when they were made aware of the irregularities.

Following a conciliation process overseen by CAS, UEFA decided to allow Los Rojillos to compete in the Europa Conference League, ensuring that the Spanish side can now look forward to their first European game since losing to Sevilla in the semi-finals of the 2006-07 UEFA Cup.

Osasuna began the new campaign with an away win over Celta Vigo, but they will go into Thursday's contest off the back of a disappointing result after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Club Brugge's Simon Mignolet applauds fans after the match on November 1, 2023 © Reuters

After spending the last two seasons competing in the Champions League, Club Brugge have had to settle for Europa Conference League football this season following their fourth-placed finish last term.

In contrast to Thursday's opponents, Club Brugge have already had to negotiate two rounds of qualifying, beating Danish outfit Aarhus 3-1 over two legs before cruising to a 10-2 aggregate victory over Icelandic side KA in the previous round.

Ronny Deila's charges enter Thursday's first leg in scintillating form after dismantling RWDM Brussels on Sunday to claim a commanding 7-1 win, representing their fifth consecutive win across all competitions.

Impressively, Club Brugge have scored at least five goals in each of their last four matches, highlighting the sort of firepower that Deila has at his disposal.

Club Brugge will now look to claim their first competitive away win against a Spanish side after failing to do so in their previous 13 attempts (D5, L8).

Osasuna form (all competitions):

Club Brugge Europa Conference League form:

Club Brugge form (all competitions):

Team News

Club Brugge forward Ferran Jutgla in action against Porto in September 2022. © Reuters

Osasuna are still unable to call upon long-term absentee Darko Brasanac, who is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in April.

Kike Barja, who has missed the opening two games of the La Liga season, has returned to training and could be passed fit to take up a place on the bench.

After enjoying a breakout season last term, Aimar Oroz will be key to Osasuna's efforts over the next two legs, and the 21-year-old midfielder will look to dictate Thursday's contest alongside Jon Moncayola and Lucas Torro.

As for the visitors, they will travel to Pamplona without the injured trio of Bjorn Meijer, Casper Nielsen, Chemsdine Talbi, Ferran Jutgla and Kamal Soweh.

Maxim De Cuyper could also miss out after being forced off at half time of Sunday's league win over RWDM with a back problem.

Having scored five goals in his opening three appearances of the new campaign, Andreas Skov Olsen will carry a real attacking threat from the right flank.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Pena, Catena, D. Garcia, Mojica; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; R. Garcia, Gomez, Budemir

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Buchanan, Mechele, Spileers, Sabbe; Vetlesen, Onyedika; Skov Olsen, Zinckernagel, Nusa; Thiago

SM words green background

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Club Brugge

Club Brugge will be determined to utilise their recent European experience against Osasuna, but having failed to win a competitive game in Spain, we think that they will have to settle for a draw in Thursday's first leg.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.