Osasuna 1 - Real Sociedad 1

Osasuna: Nuno; Yanguas, Aitor Ocio, Cruchaga, Mateo, Llorens (Oscar Arpón 80'); Gancedo, Alfredo, Palacios (Alfonso 65'); Armentano, Iván Rosado. 5-3-2.
Real Sociedad: Asper; Loren, Pikabea, Corino; Fuentes (Xavi Alonso 65'), Luiz Alberto, López Rekarte; Tayfun, Idiakez (Jauregui 80'), Khokhlov (Llorente 84'); Jankauskas. 3-3-3-1.

Team changes: Osasuna: Cruchaga, Gancedo, Palacios for Vidakovic, Alex, Lekumberri / Real: Asper, Corino, Luiz Alberto for Alberto, Jauregui, De Pedro.

Goals:
0-1. 56. Idiakez (penalty). After Aitor Ocio brought down Khokhlov in box.
1-1. 78. Jankauskas (own goal). Turned cross from right past own keeper.

A classic tie returned to a packed El Sadar stadium in Pamplona, with many fans making the short journey from San Sebastian to watch their side Real Sociedad take on Osasuna in a game which was more than just a local derby. The match fell at the time of the local festival, the 'tamborrada', and both sets of fans mixed together in a friendly atmosphere, both in the streets before the game and during the match. With both teams struggling at the bottom of the table, the loser of this one was going to be in trouble, with Real only three points behind looking to catch their neighbours if they could get a win. New signing Gancedo made his first start for the home side, with Cruchaga back after an injury and Palacios coming in for the suspended Lekumberri. John Toshack made three changes as well, giving Swedish keeper Asper a last chance in place of Alberto, with Deportivo's Kouba waiting on the sidelines if he failed. New signing Luiz Alberto came straight in to the side, with Corino returning in defence.

Asper was in action early on, tipping a shot from Llorens away for a corner in the first minute and saving from Palacios and Gancedo a little later. Real replied through Jankauskas, who's shot was saved by Nuno, the on loan keeper celebrating his call up for Portugal's midweek friendly. Both teams had their chances before Real took the lead early in the second half from the penalty spot after Aitor Ocio tripped Khokhlov, Idiakez coolly slotting the kick wide of Nuno. Toshack pulled his men back, determined to consolidate the result, and Osasuna took the initiative, with Palacios wasting a good chance and Armentano hitting the crossbar. With twelve minutes to go Real were left with ten men after referee Ramírez Domínguez gave Pikabea a second yellow card, and Osasuna equalised straight from the resulting free kick, Mateo knocking it back across goal for Jankauskas to turn it past his own keeper under pressure from Cruchaga.

Toshack decided a point was enough and brought on Jauregui to shore up his defence, and Lotina moved to a 4-4-2 formation, replacing defender Llorens with Arpón. The home side had their best moments in the last few minutes, and Armentano could have won it if his shot had not gone just wide. In the end though a result which did not satisfy either side, with Oasuna slipping back into the relegation zone and Real staying bottom, level now though with Racing on fourteen points. This was Toshack's third game in charge and he is gradually getting an idea of the team he wants, with Julio César due to join the club on loan in a few days. Both Real and Osasuna still need a reliable forward though, and negotiations are under way for new players to join before the transfer market closes at the end of the month.