Five reasons to believe in Osasuna's promotion chances

The perfect blend of youth and experience

The At. Osasuna squad contains a fine balance of youth and experience, which has proved a key factor in their march to the playoff final. The hunger and ambition of youngsters like Mikel Merino, David Garcia and Kenan Kodro is complemented by the experience and know-how of the side's senior players, including Nino, Miguel de las Cuevas and the Flaño brothers, Javier and Miguel. This mix of youth and experience combine to form a side that are more than capable of capping an excellent season with promotion to the top flight.

An on-song Mikel Merino

Osasuna starlet Merino is enjoying a memorable campaign in which he would appear to be hitting top form just at the right time. The 19-year-old central midfielder was the star of the show in the semi-final tie against Gimnastic, notching three of his side's six goals and producing a sumptuous back-heel for Javier Flaño to make it 2-1 in the second-leg clash at the Nou Estadi. The showpiece against Girona FC presents Merino with the perfect opportunity to bow out on a high before he heads off to join Borussia Dortmund.

 Plenty of Liga BBVA experience in the ranks

Javier Flaño, Miguel Flaño, Unai Garcia, Maikel, Nino, Miguel de las Cuevas, Roberto Torres and Urko Vera have all graced the Liga BBVA during their careers and the Navarre outfit have the edge over Girona in this respect. Indeed, the Flaño brothers, De las Cuevas and Nino are able to call on a wealth of top-flight experience and this could well tip the balance in Osasuna's favour in the pressure-cooker environment of a playoff final.

Home-grown players who live and breathe for the club

The majority of the Osasuna squad is made up of home-grown talent, of players who have come up through the ranks and have spent their whole careers at the Pamplona club. When Osasuna dropped down to the Liga Adelante in the 2014-15 campaign, the Los Rojillos hierarchy decided to place their faith in the club's youth set-up, a decision which is now reaping its rewards, with the club boasting a set of fully committed players who are Osasuna through and through. Some members of the current side were part of the squad in the club's last Liga BBVA campaign, whilst others will be giving their all to ensure that Osasuna are amongst the Spanish footballing elite next term.

'Been there, done that' for sharpshooter Nino

The Osasuna forward - who returned for the semi-final second leg after having missed the first game - already has one Liga Adelante promotion on his CV, after the Andalusian hitman's goalscoring exploits guided CD Tenerife to the top tier in the 2008/09 season. Nino ended this season as the Liga Adelante's leading marksman with 29 goals, and seven years on from his last taste of promotion glory, his goals could hold the key to propelling Osasuna back to the top flight.