BARCELONA v OSASUNA TICKETS Saturday 9th sept 20′00 h THE FIRST HOME TEST

FC Barcelona have had a very busy summer and it remains to be seen what effect that will have on the players when the games really begin to come thick and fast during the season ahead.
Frank Rijkaard’s side proved during their opening encounter, against Celta Vigo in Balaidos, that they do have the spirit and, at the moment, the legs to carry on battling to the very end as they claimed all three points with a late goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen. After a relaxing start in Denmark, albeit only a few days after the World Cup Finals had finished, the pre-season campaign really kicked into gear.
A game in Mexico was followed by three in the United States as Barca travelled through various timezones in order to promote themselves to the eager American market. After arriving back in Catalunya on Sunday, August 13, the team then set about playing five matches in 12 days. Spirits were lifted after Espanyol were beaten in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup, befoire Bayern Munich arrived at Camp for a kickabout in the Gamper Trophy. Monaco then called as the Blaugrana succumbed to a well-organised and powerful Sevilla team in the European Super Cup and
then, four days later the league campaign kicked off in Galicia.
New additions were made during the summer with Gudjohnsen being bought as a direct replacement for Henrik Larsson, while Barca took advantage of Juventus’ woes to prise Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta from La Vecchia Signora.
Mark Van Bommel was off-loaded to Bayern and Maxi Lopez was shipped out to find his level during a season-long loan at Mallorca. Not much has been seen of Thuram yet, but it would not be unreasonable to think that he will slot in alongside Carles Puyol in defence with Rafa Marquez moving forward to replace the cumbersome Thiago Motta in midfield.
WHO ARE CA OSASUNA?
The Pamplona-based club’s rise in recent years can be put down to just one man, Javier Aguirre.
After taking his native Mexico to the World Cup Finals in 2002, Aguirre took the reins at El Sadar, now re-named El Reyno de Navarra, and begun to build a solid squad that became renowned for their battling spirit and impressive home form.
At the end of his fourth season in charge, the team qualified for the Champions League qualifiers having finished fourth on the final day, but instead of staying put to enjoy one season in Europe, Aguirre accepted an offer to take over the poisoned chalice of Atletico Madrid coach. Cuco Ziganda was promoted from within and he has made some shrwd signings and vowed not to change much from the Aguirre-era. Unfortunately, the club failed to make it the group stages of the Champions League after losing on away goals against Hamburg .