First Team 20 Feb 2026

Alessio Lisci: "We have to stay alert and play as close to perfection as possible"

The Italian coach addressed the media ahead of tomorrow's Osasuna v Real Madrid match

Osasuna head coach Alessio Lisci spoke to the media Friday morning ahead of Saturday’s match against Real Madrid at El Sadar Stadium (6:30 p.m.).

“They’re on a huge winning streak in the league. People say they’re struggling, but they win every weekend and are now league leaders. We love that. When you’re at a certain level, what you love most is playing against the best, and they’re one of the best teams in the world. That’s what excites us, so we’re very eager to play tomorrow’s match,” Lisci said.

Asked what kind of game he expects, Lisci said, “There will be moments for everything. They’ll press us, and at times they’ll let us have more of the ball. We’ll do the same—sometimes we’ll press, other times we’ll have to defend deeper. It’ll be a match with many phases, and we have to be comfortable in every situation the game presents.”

He emphasized the need to excel on both sides of the ball and transition well: “Real Madrid, beyond their talent, are extremely dangerous when they can counterattack. We saw it in the first leg—a single run led to a penalty against us. We have to manage every phase of the game well, especially restarts, because they’re very dangerous in that area and keep the game flowing with quick restarts. We have to stay alert and play as close to perfection as possible.”

Regarding his team’s form, Lisci said, “We’re in a good place. Tomorrow, we want to keep our positive momentum going, and we’ve been strong at home all year.”

“We’re excited, motivated, and looking forward to seeing the fans. I’ve been told the atmosphere against Real Madrid is incredible, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, especially to see how the fans respond,” he added.

Asked about the home crowd, Lisci said, “When you step onto the field, they carry you. It’s hard to control yourself when the fans push you, but that’s a good thing. We need to let the fans carry us, because to win these games—which have become tougher in recent years, given Real Madrid’s quality—you need that extra boost from the supporters to give 101 percent.”

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