First Team 05 Apr 2026

Alessio Lisci: 'So close to winning, we ended with a bitter taste'

The Italian coach addresses media after 2-2 draw at Vitoria

Osasuna head coach Alessio Lisci addressed the media in a press conference following his team’s 2-2 draw against Deportivo Alaves. 

"It’s a shame because when you’re so close to winning, you end up with a bitter taste. Overall, I don’t think the draw is a bad result and perhaps it’s fair. When you go ahead so late in the match, you want to get the win, but instead you’re left with a bitter taste. If the game ended 1-1, it is what it is. Our performance wasn’t such that we absolutely deserved the win."

"In the first half, we took the lead and generally had possession. Their only chances came from a throw-in and a foul. We started to lose control because we couldn’t win the second ball and the duels. Once we fixed that, we regained control. Their goal came from a play where we needed to defend better. In the second half, we were more aggressive and outplayed them. We had some chances, though we weren’t outstanding. The game was mired, with many second balls and little continuity. We managed to regain the lead, and then the penalty happened."

"I don’t know why VAR intervened; it was incidental contact"

When asked about the penalty awarded in stoppage time after the referee checked VAR for defender Alejandro Catena’s foul on Alaves forward Toni Martinez, Lisci said: "In the summer, those plays are called incidental contact. Then, at some point, they become penalties; I’m not sure when that change happens. I think the referee did well, but I don’t know why VAR got involved when it was incidental contact."

Lisci also thanked the fans who traveled from Navarre to Mendizorrotza. "The fans are amazing. It was fantastic. There were moments when it felt like we were the home side. We thank them for their support, which helped us get close to three points."

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