Osasuna head coach Alessio Lisci was left searching for superlatives after his side claimed a famous 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at El Sadar, praising both the atmosphere and his players’ relentless growth.
Speaking after the final whistle, Lisci first turned his attention to the emotion inside the stadium, describing a night that will live long in the memory for everyone connected to the club.
“Incredible, it was incredible. I think it was so much that I don’t even know what words to use. Everyone here today felt it—there’s nothing else to say. It was fantastic,” Lisci said.
“I really liked the game. Maybe we’ve played more attractive matches on other days, but playing against Real Madrid… You always have to consider the level of the opponent when analyzing the match.
“We’re in a good place right now, especially because we talked in the locker room about how our last game wasn’t good. We got a point, but it wasn’t good, and we can’t settle for what happened in Elche.”
He added: “The team responded incredibly well, and we’re evolving. The positive thing is that we’re going through a tough schedule and making it look easier than it is.
“That’s because the team keeps evolving, keeps working, and above all, they’re not satisfied with what we’re doing—they want more, and I love that.”
Breaking down the match itself, Lisci underlined how his players adapted after a difficult opening spell before growing into the contest.
“I take away a lot of things because I think the team managed to push even harder despite being ahead.
“In the first half, I think we didn’t touch the ball for the first three minutes, but then we improved, recovered, and did what we had worked on.
“We tried to be aggressive when we could, and when we couldn’t, we defended in a low block quite comfortably.”
The gaffer continued: “Obviously, against Real Madrid, you’re going to concede some chances—they have too many quality players not to create opportunities.”
Even after taking the lead, Lisci was pleased that his side kept their attacking intent.
“After our goal, we kept trying to score a second. In the second half, sometimes they pressed us hard, other times we were able to play out and have long possessions, be comfortable.
“Before their goal, maybe we lost too much ground, but that’s normal in the 70th or 75th minute.”
Lisci also pointed to the mental and physical challenge of holding off a wounded giant.
“Everyone wants to keep pressing, but fatigue and facing a team like Real Madrid, who push hard when they’re losing, makes it tough to keep them pinned back.
“But the team stayed organized, defended well, and after their goal, we still had the belief to get another one.”
Finally, the Osasuna coach reserved special praise for the entire squad, making it clear that this was a collective triumph rather than an individual one.
“I’m very happy with the whole game, especially with the substitutes—they contributed a lot, both those who came on and those who didn’t.
“I told them before the game that you can’t get points against Real Madrid if you don’t play all 90 minutes, so the match wasn’t going to be won by just the starters. That’s why I’m so happy.”
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
