Osasuna’s results have been surprisingly poor this campaign and the nightmare seems endless. Their lack of form throughout the season could lead to Petar Vasljevic’s team setting an infamous record.
After only a win and eight draws, Osasuna sit at the bottom of the table with just 11 points. Their last victory dates back October 17, when they defeated Eibar away from home.
While most fans are resigned to life in La Segunda next season, the outcome of 2016-17 season may be even worse: they may statistically become La Liga’s worst team since 1995.
During the 95-96 campaign, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) introduced three points for a win. Since then, the worst campaign was had by Sporting Gijon in 97-98, when they picked up just 13 points.
Sporting were incredibly poor, with just two wins and seven draws in 38 games. CP Merida, the team that finished 19th, bagged the significantly-greater sum of 39 points.
Osasuna are left with few chances to turn their season around, but they still have 10 games to play. The team currently sitting 17th, Leganes, have 26 points, 15 more than the Navarre side.
If Vasiljevic proves not to be able to save the club from relegation, he will need to secure at least two more points to avoid breaking the infamous record.
Osasuna will host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. The Basques will certainly be tough opponents, but the Pamplona outfit will be looking to repeat the performance that won them a point at San Mames in October.
On the other hand, Athletic’s players will certainly not be willing to drop any more points as the race for fifth place is still open.
Among those that have lost faith in Vasiljevic side is former Osasuna player Angel Luis Camacho, who sees a lack of identity in this season’s squad as the reason for their poor results.
The retired midfielder felt the togetherness that characterised his Osasuna team at the turn of the millennium no longer existed, with a lack of personality among the current crop only exposing their lack of quality further.
In the event Osasuna failed to win any more points by the end of the season, they would equal the lowest points total record in top-flight European football since the introduction of three points for a win.
This negative record belongs to the English side Derby County. The Rams won just 11 points in 07-08 Premier League, with a win and eight draws like Osasuna.
Another negative record comes from Italy, where Brescia were relegated with a meagre 12 points in 94-95 after two wins and six draws.
Osasuna’s season is not over, but Vasiljevic needs to find the right path to avoid being remembered for his side’s below-par record.