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Spanish Primera Division
Spain
The Spanish league, called Liga BBVA this year!
Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna
Official name Athletic Club
City Bilbao
Founded 1898
Club colors Red-White vertical striped / Black / Black
vs.
0 - 0
Osasuna
Official name Club Atlético Osasuna
City Pamplona - Navarra
Founded 1920
Club colors Red / Blue / Blue
Match scheduled:
Date: 19-12-2009
Time:17:00 until 19:00
Week 15 / Jornada 15 :: LFP La Liga BBVA 2009/2010 :: BWIN doesn't have the tv rights for Spain, Italy, UK, France and Scandinavia. In Scandanavia Bet365/Betfair have got the rights!
In recent seasons Athletic Bilbao have languished in mid-table and the club was embroiled in a relegation battle during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons. In 2006 top-flight survival was ensured on the 37th match day when Deportivo de la Coruña were beaten at Riazor 2-1. Javier Clemente began his third spell as club coach in 2005, at a time when the club were last in the table. He is widely acknowledged to have brought defensive stability to the team, and so is also credited with having saved the club from relegation, despite this he was not left in charge for the 2006-2007 season. The 2006-2007 season has been the worst in the club's history, top-flight survival was ensured on the last match day when Levante were beaten at San Mamés 2-0. In December 2008 Spanish media claimed that this match had been fixed and that some of Levante UD players accepted a bribe from the Basque club. Despite the lack of on-field success, a majority of the club's supporters think the club's identity is more important than winning trophies. According to an El Mundo survey in the 1990s, 76% of Athletic fans would rather see the club relegated than give up the cantera policy. The most successful Athletic team of recent times has been the women’s football team who have won the Superliga Femenina four times between 2003 and 2007.
After a stellar 2005-06 domestic campaign, Osasuna made history by finishing in fourth place, synonymous with the chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in the following season through play-off matches. This achievement was made all the more dramatic by the suspense that was maintained until the last day of the championship in which Osasuna and Sevilla were both vying for the fourth place. Both teams eventually ended the season with the same number of points but Osasuna got through due to their head-to-head record. However, Osasuna didn't make it to the Champions League group phase, as they were eliminated by Hamburg in the third qualifying round, leaving them to vie in the UEFA Cup for the fifth time in their history.
Osasuna were drawn in Group D of the UEFA Cup 2006-07 along with Parma, Lens, Odense and Heerenveen. They successfully qualified to the knock-out stage, finishing second in their group, and were drawn against Girondins Bordeaux, who had dropped into the UEFA Cup following an unsuccessful Champions League campaign. Osasuna progressed 1-0 on aggregate, drawing 0-0 away before winning 1-0 in Pamplona through an extra-time winner by Javad Nekounam.
Next up were Scottish side Rangers, and the Spanish side again progressed, following a 1-1 draw in Scotland and a 1-0 win at home. They were drawn against German giants Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals. Regarded as severe underdogs, Osasuna not only progressed to the semifinals but did so in style. A 3-0 win in Germany had virtually sealed the tie, but Osasuna also won the second leg, 1-0.
In the last-four round, Osasuna was drawn against UEFA Cup 2006-07 current holders and fellow Spanish side Sevilla. Osasuna were 1-0 victors in the 1st leg at home, however the dream ended in the return leg. Sevilla recorded a 2-0 win, and returned to the final of the competition where they played another Spanish side - Espanyol - becoming winners on penalties.
In the following two seasons, Osasuna struggled mightily in the league. In 2008–09, it only avoided relegation in the final day: being in 18th place and going into the final matchday, home to Real Madrid, they fell behind 1–0, but came back with two goals (the decider courtesy of Juanfran, a merengue youth graduate) to remain in La Liga.
Osasuna fans tend towards combining their sports passion with hatred of Jews. Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate who plays in Spain has regularly become the victim of Antisemitic shouting and harassment by Osasuna fans. The Spanish soccer federation has announced disciplinary measures against Osasuna in December 2009.
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