Villarreal's Cazorla Wary Of 'Hurt' Osasuna

Villarreal take on Osasuna next weekend knowing that their opponents will be eager to bounce back from their loss to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Last weekend the side from Pamplona were denied two clear penalties by the referee and, instead, were punished as Juanfran was sent off for accruing two yellow cards for 'diving.'

Speaking today, Santi Cazorla acknowledged that the manner of their defeat is likely to have an impact when they meet Villarreal.

"After what happened in the Bernabéu, it is clear that Osasuna will arrive hurt, but we hope that is not something that affects the match," he told Marca .

"We should not be focused on that [the penalties and aftermath] but instead on what Osasuna can do."

According to Cazorla it will not be the first time that Villarreal have played a hurt team because almost all the teams that meet them have just encountered Real Madrid and Barcelona, and, "almost always they arrive effected by a refereeing decision."

"We have been to Málaga already and they complained about the officials. Normally we get the hot teams who have had trouble in their last games with referees," he bemoaned in a light-hearted manner.

However, the midfielder acknowledged that despite all that his side should be, "focused on the game and the opponent, and above all else, in doing things well, in order to be able to win the match."

With the first-half of the season now gone, Cazorla also looked back at the points they have acquired, and sounded pleased with the tally, despite the fact they have not beaten direct rivals, which has "cost them places in the league."

"In spit of everything we have 33 points, we are near to the Champions League places, and hopes are high. We are near our objective and there is still a long way to go," he concluded.

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com