Robert Pirés Has Faith In Osasuna Referee

Robert Pirés does not think that referees will be looking to do Osasuna any favours to even things up after the controversy that surrounded the game at Real Madrid last weekend.

The French forward is confident that matchday official Jose Luis Paradas Romero will be fair when Villarreal meet the Pamplona-based outfit on Saturday in El Madrigal.

Osasuna were at the centre of two highly controversial decisions against Madrid as Juanfran was sent off for two alleged dives. The overwhelming majority of observers have since agreed that both looked like fouls in the area.

"We know that the referees are under a lot of pressure," Pirés told reporters.

"I do not think that what happened in the Bernabéu will affect us in Saturday's game because the referees know what they have to do."

Osasuna are bottom of the table and Pirés is expecting them to head to Villarreal looking to play with a packed defence and one up front.

"It is difficult to play against teams who come only to pick up a point;" he continued. "I am sure that they are going to play on the counter-attack, as they did last week against Real Madrid.

"We must take care with these types of games if we want to be at the top of the table."

Lucas Brown, Goal.com