Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Fran Merida is looking forward to facing his old club for the first time on Sunday with Osasuna.
The 26-year-old made 30 appearances with Los Rojiblancos between 2010 and 2012 after a spell at Arsenal, and has since played for Spanish lower league sides Hercules and Huesca along with a short stint in Brazil, before joining Los Rojillos this summer.
"I'm looking forward to seeing them," Merida told ESPN.
"They will also be coming here hurting, after the derbi. But once the game starts we all look for our own interests. Both teams need to win, however they can.
"We've only been with [Caparros] a few weeks and we've been working a lot tactically, to be more organized.
"We must try and be strong in defence and also to play our game when we have the ball, with the quality we have. I'm working hard every day, to be ready to take the chance to play when it comes. For us the important thing on Sunday is we need the points.”
The midfielder – who famously scored a winner at Anfield for the Gunners and who supporter Atletico as a kid – then confessed he wanted to see his former sides do well.
"The most important thing is for Osasuna to stay up,” he explained.
"Then I wish Atletico the best… after Sunday. And I still watch Arsenal. I was there for four years and I think this season they have the team to win the Premier League, for sure. So Osasuna safe, Atletico and Arsenal winning something, I'd take that now."
