Asier Riesgo: "We know they need the points and that they'll come here to win and we'll have to match that"

Asier Riesgo this morning reflected on the pre-season friendly against Osasuna, who provide the opposition in Monday's league clash, an encounter that the shotstopper is looking forward to: "We're really up for Monday's game, it's an important one given that we go into it having picked up a point at the Bernabéu and we know that if we can get something out of this one at home, it'll represent an important step, that's what we're aiming to do". Reflecting on Eibar's last outing, in which the Armeros picked up a point against Real Madrid, Riesgo offered a word of caution, "We got a draw in our last game, we put in a good performance and that result certainly spurs you on as you go into the week. We're now preparing for this game at home, we're competing really well and we hope to continue on in this vein as we look to win the game. We'll have to play with intensity, which is our hallmark and we know they need the points and that they'll come here to win and we'll have to match that".

The former Osasuna custodian also commented on his time at the Navarran club, "There's no question that my last year there was a tough one, but I've got some excellent memories of the place. It'll be a very special game for me in that sense. The year after I left they had a great season and got promoted but now they're struggling a bit, but they're a united group who know how to defend very well and last year they conceded very few goals. In reference to Eibar's good form, Riesgo remarked that, "When you go to the Bernabéu it's very difficult to get anything and we had to put in a very good performance to get anything, it left us with a sweet taste in our mouths, but we've got to try and show the same drive, this game is part of our mini-league, they'll come here to win and if we don't match them it'll be very tough for us".