While Osasuna have always been a patient club when it comes to managers – prior to Vicente Moreno, Jagoba Arrasate was in charge for seven years – there must have been a few fans that were nervous about their early season form under Alessio Lisci. However the Italian coach is looking far more comfortable as the second half of the season draws on.
Spending most of the first half of it hanging around the bottom half, Lisci was coming under increasing pressure to turn things around. Most sports betting updates would have placed them among the favourites to be relegated in La Liga. Los Rojillo reached 12th in Matchday 8, but then continued on a slow descent to 18th over the over the following nine games, rising just once in the table.
Lisci got his first break as a manager in Primera as a young manager at Levante, in what seemed a doomed season. He helped end a 29-game winless streak, and gave hope to Los Granotas, but eventually they succumbed to relegation. His second job seemed to confirm some positive signs though, guiding Mirandes to midtable to security in his first season, and then achieving a remarkable campaign in his second that got them to the play-off final.
Earning a reputation for attractive, high-tempo football with three defenders at the back, Lisci came into Pamplona with high hopes. While his side were not being outplayed, they were not impressing either early on. Things are starting to look up in 2026 though. A run of three wins in their last four, and just one defeat in seven, has lifted Osasuna to 9th spot in a tight division. While they remain just seven points off relegation, they arre now closer to Europe, with is four points away.
Part of their improvement seems to have been an acknowledgement of growing problems. Lisci has adapted his ideas to a 4-2-3-1 rather than three at the back, and Sporting Director Braulio Vazquez admitted that he had left Lisci short in terms of resources. In January, Javi Galan and Raul Moro arrived, joining summer signings Victor Munoz and Valentin Rosier in the line-up for their impressive victory over Celta Vigo.
The added pace and width looks to be paying dividends, which has been exemplified by Munoz. The former Real Madrid man has been a livewire for Osasuna, and one of the revelations of the Liga season. Lisci and Osasuna will not be getting ahead of themselves, but now they will feel they have a platform to build on.
