Osasuna draw in La Liga opener

PFDC – PAMPLONA, Iranian midfielder Javad Nekounam started and played 84 minutes in Osasuna’s first round La Liga game against Almeria on Sunday, which ended in a goalless stalemate.

Nekounam, who played as sole defensive midfielder, showed a satisfying though not outstanding performance, however, was repeatedly confronted with negative reactions from the homecrowd, who still didn’t forgive him showing up late for preseason preperations.

Masoud Shojaei, who after the transfer of defender Roversio to Betis Sevilla remains the third non-EU player in the roster, made the 18-men-squad for the match, but earned no playing time.