Granada CF vs Osasuna preview - Murillo optimistic of success

Posted Friday, January 17, 2014 by PA

Colombian defender Jeison Murillo is confident Granada can repeat their free-scoring Real Valladolid victory against Osasuna in Saturday's La Liga clash.

The 21-year-old fired an acrobatic overhead kick to spark Granada's 4-0 thrashing of relegation battlers Valladolid last weekend.

Forced off with a thigh strain in the second half, Murillo has made a quick recovery in time to face Osasuna, and hopes his side can be as lethal in front of goal this weekend as last.

"The team have done the job we've had to do," he told Granada's official club website.

"We've had a great first half of the season and that's the path we have to keep following."

Granada sit ninth in the Spanish league, with Murillo relishing his first campaign at the club.

The Andalusian side host Osasuna at Los Carmenes hoping for a second league win in as many weeks.

"I had a pull in my quad but now I'm back training normally and looking forward to this match," he said.

"We showed what we can do last week, it is now about a repeat."

Osasuna's Miguel De Las Cuevas has challenged his team-mates to shake off any Copa Del Rey disappointment before the weekend.

The frustrated midfielder said the club cannot afford to let their 2-0 midweek defeat to Real Madrid linger.

"It's a shame because the cup is always like that," he told Granada's official club website.

"We tried hard for the first goal and a positive result, but now we have to focus on the league and think Granada, the Madrid game is already forgotten."

Andres Fernandez's error gifted Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo a soft goal in the Madrid defeat, but De Las Cuevas said Osasuna's goalkeeper is resolute enough to cope.

"Andres is a strong guy and has spent many years in football," he said.

"Even the best goalkeepers may have bugs and it is already forgotten.

"We are feeling good and go with the idea of repeating our performance against Betis.

"We know it will be hard but if we prepare properly then we can get something.

"We know we can win both home and away and that is giving us confidence, we believe in ourselves."

Osasuna sit 13th in the league table on 21 points after 19 matches, but De Las Cuevas is clear about the first priority: avoid relegation.

"We have half the points we need, it's about points, points, points now," he said.

"We go for 42 and the more we gain the better."