Osasuna coach Alessio Lisci has spoken about his team’s preparations for their opening-day trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, acknowledging both the difficulty of the match and the motivation his side takes from facing elite opponents.
Speaking with Erem News, the Italian coach described Tuesday’s meeting with Real Madrid as one of the toughest fixtures in LaLiga.
“The game against Real Madrid… it’s undoubtedly one of the toughest matches in LaLiga, perhaps the toughest, because Real Madrid was one of the best
teams last season,” Lisci said. “We like to play against the big teams; we even wish we could face them every week. So we’re happy to face them and are working hard to be ready for that particular match.”
Lisci rejected the idea that Madrid’s recent Club World Cup participation would leave them at a disadvantage. Instead, he argued it helped prepare them even further. “A tournament like the Club World Cup or big friendlies were very important for them; they helped them adapt to the new coach and play high-level matches. I think they’re in a better position than us now, because they played demanding matches. They’re a very complete team and will arrive at the opening match well prepared.”
The coach also reflected on past experiences at the Bernabéu, including a 6-0 defeat with Leganés when he was coaching them, and last season’s 4-0 loss with Osasuna. “It’s very difficult for any team to win at the Santiago Bernabéu… But we know that with hard work and a good performance, we can achieve something. The players are working hard, and I think we can put on a good performance there, even though it’s one of the toughest stadiums in the world.”
On Real Madrid’s managerial change, Lisci noted that while Xabi Alonso may bring fresh ideas, the core challenge remains the same. “Playing against Real Madrid is always difficult, regardless of the coach. Ideas can vary, but the most important thing is the individual abilities of the players, who are among the best in the world. Ancelotti did an excellent job… The same goes for Alonso.”
He also singled out Kylian Mbappé as a major threat. “We know Mbappé is a different player and we have to be very careful with him. We’ve studied him a lot and designed specific defensive plans against him. Yes, it will be difficult, but we’ll try to stop him.”
Finally, Lisci dismissed discussions about refereeing controversies, saying his focus is strictly on his team. “Real Madrid TV criticizing referees? That’s a matter for Real Madrid, not me. For me, the important thing is to find a way to beat Real Madrid, not to think about the referees.”
