Osasuna playing us well, doing a job of pressing us in our half. I think it’ll happen less in the 2nd half, and the likes of Rakitic/Oliver can make use of the spaces they’ve been leaving open for us.
Saw some very good chances thru Papu & Delaney. I’m sure we can get more if we just pick up our spots. Looks a bit shaky at the back, but i hope halftime gives them a chance to calm down and just play their game.
And why is Ocampos on left? We doing this again?! 
About what I expected. So hard to go on the road to Osasuna and perform well from the start. I think they will be ok here in the second. Lot’s of quality to pull from the bench.
Not a bad first half. We had 2 great chances after the goal with Papu (should’ve scored that) and Delaney from long range. Osasuna were dangerous at times too, although we were generally a bit better than them.
The first conceded goal is on Gudelj… terrible defensive positioning. But, we can’t judge him too much because even he knows that he’s not the first choice CB and is playing there thanks to the management not finishing business soon enough and thanks to failing so far with the Marcao transfer.
We can win this one. I expect to see Rakitic and Lamela in the second half.
Good goal by Mir and great assist by Papu on that one.
Overall I felt we did alright. We looked good on the ball and created a few chances. Osasuna started quick and we were caught out early on.
Gudelj I thought did alright overall but he was at fault for the goal. He didn’t track the runner. However, great response by us and very well worked. Great control and ball by papu and amazing from Mir who read it and finished it with aplomb. Great pass from papu though.
As the half went on we settled and got a bit more comfortable. We still a bit vulnerable in the centre although I still think rekik and gudelj did alright. We defo need another CB though and Marcao back fit soon. Osasuna have been a threat all game.
Delaney looking good with Fernando and unlucky not to score with that great strike.
Ocampos and tecatito did well and I’m happy Mir got his goal and he’s worked hard.
Both sides have the chances to win here and it’s been more open and entertaining than I thought it would. I hope we can win this but a draw wouldn’t be to bad. It’s not been an easy game but we coping ok.
We do have the stronger bench and have enough attacking options to try get another goal or 2.
Let’s do this. Vamos sevilla!!
Fernando is trying to be all over the place and help the CB department, but he’s clearly not in the right physical condition to do that just yet. I doubt he’ll be able to do that successfully for another 1-2 months or so - but at least he’s trying. Remember, he’s 35 and coming out of an ankle surgery from last season.
That’s the main reason that we should go for another DM in this market (preferably box to box). Delaney is ok but he won’t be able to fully cover for Fernando.
I’m happy we went in level as osasuna did the high press a lot. They put a lot into that half. It may affect them a bit in the 2nd. We managed to ride it out. Let’s hope our subs can add a lot and we have more energy in 2nd half to try make it count. Vamos!
I counted 15 passes starting from bono throwing out to us getting as far as the half way line before losing the ball.
That is what we have become under lope.
That’s right - and happy MM anniversary! @Brian
@TimSpence2 - I was thinking there for a moment that we were playing a bit different from the usual Lopeball… but after the equalizer we resorted back to the good ol’ stuff.
Perhaps the players are not ready to embrace the new “risky” tactics. Hopefully we become more fluid in the meantime because this could very well mean we’re in for another boring and irritating season with that same kind of play.
They are proactive we are reactive, hence our goal being a couple of minutes after theirs.
They seek out positions to cross or to shoot, we just try to keep the ball and make the most of their errors.
It’s a very poor strategy and it’s tremendously wasteful of our talent.
Not usually a Rafa Mir fanboy, but that goal was amazing. Acuña to Papu to Rafa, just beautiful combination.
Vital tackle by Acuna there.
The game’s becoming scrappy, they need someone like Rakitic to lend a little calm and class in midfield.
Looks like YEN will be on soon
Yes, Lamela for Tecatito and YEN for Mir
Dang - penalty ruled off because Papu was offside before the pass.
Agreed. A good quality specialist DM is as important as an upgrade at CB imo.
Hope we see Lamela on for Ocampos or Tecatito asap. Don’t want to see YEN replacing Mir here.
Wasted chance! Lamela hesitated too long and didn’t play YEN in.
Offside there.
But as a goalkeeper myself, I’ve been told numerous times to go with your hands instead, poor goalkeeping from Sergio Herrera there
One part of that is entirely stupid at this moment in the game, the other part is questionable, imbecile Lope.