IT is often said in boxing that contrasting styles always produce the best fights and it also makes for very entertaining football matches too.
Osasuna's visit to this wonderful city was a case of Spanish flair and flamboyance trying to conquer English grit and determination and it ended up falling well short.
Notts County's 2-0 victory, courtesy of wonderful goals from trialist Gary Jones and captain Hayden Mullins, ensured they finished their pre-season campaign with a convincing performance just a week before League One's big kick-off.
It was achieved against a side who were playing in La Liga last year, one which had also strolled past Diego Simeone's excellent Atletico Madrid team with a 3-0 home victory last February.
Relegation followed, however, but even the Spanish second division is not too shabby when it comes to producing sides of real quality.
But Osasuna were no match for Notts and for their manager Shaun Derry it was a result which he can take great confidence from especially with the trip to Preston looming on the horizon.
It will have also soothed the anger he felt after Tuesday's 4-0 defeat against Birmingham City in which he read the riot act to his squad for some exceptionally poor defending.
There was no repeat of it although had it not been for the brilliance of Roy Carroll, Notts would not have emerged from this entertaining clash with a clean sheet.
The Northern Irishman underlined why Derry is so keen to recruit the former Manchester United goalkeeper who at the age of 36 still retains catlike reflexes.
A wonderful save from Mikel Merino early on underlined his ability, a one-handed stop which was rubber-stamped with international quality.
It actually set the tone for a performance, which unlike against Birmingham and Derby County, was full of zip and penetration.
With the game against Preston one week away, the players are still vying for a place in the starting line-up at Deepdale and the fear they could well be left out if they did not perform was clearly a motivating factor.
Underpinned by a tigerish performance by the excellent Alan Smith, Notts had to remain patient for the breakthrough, but it was certainly worth the wait.
Excellent work by Blair Adams who offered constant support from left-back ended with him shifting the ball inside to Jones.
The former Rochdale and Bradford midfielder, who is currently a free agent, took one touch before he smashed a wonderful strike into the top corner.
The 37-year-old's right foot was proving a devastating weapon and in the 40th minute it carved open Osasuna's defence again.
He delivered a superb free-kick in which Hayden Mullins used the pace of the ball to power a terrific header beyond goalkeeper Santamaria.
The Spanish side responded quickly but again they were thwarted by Carroll.
A crude challenge by Jones on Jose Garcia was penalised by the referee right on the edge of the box.
Kenan Kodro assumed responsibility for the kick and as his shot seemed destined for the top corner, Carroll flung out a big left hand to turn it around the post.
Osasuna sent out a whole new team for the second half and the vast amount of changes certainly had an effect on the crispness of their passing.
The referee was also inadvertently getting involved and when a pass clipped his heels and ended up with Zeli Ismail, there was only one thought in his mind.
A quick shift of balance confused Oier Sanjuro and his low right foot drive was beaten away by Asier Riego but nobody was on hand to follow up.
Having largely changed his back-four, Derry made a further change on the flanks with Adam Dawson sent on to play on the left with Ismail sent back out to the right.
A rare Osasuna attack ended with Mesa striking straight at Carroll while at the other end good work from Adams ended with his cross being headed wide by Ronan Murray.
The visitors were always trying to play out from the back but while very comfortable in possession they lacked some of the penetration of the opening 45 minutes.
However, a wonderful effort from Nino nearly curled into the far corner following some wonderful approach play which you would expect from a side who were playing in La Liga last term.
Mesa tried his luck again from distance with 11 minutes left, but his spectacular volley, which although had the pace, lacked the accuracy to trouble Carroll who watched it zip past his right-hand post.
Notts' clean sheet almost disappeared when Adams almost scored a freak own goal when a cross deflected off his chest, but it dropped wide of the post as English grit ultimately fended off the Spanish invasion.
Notts: Carroll, Dumbuya (Thompson 45), Adams, Smith (Noble 70), Mullins (McKenzie 45), Hollis (A Trialist 45), Ismail (Balmy 68), Murray, Thompson (Dawson 61), Cassidy (Whitehouse 85), Jones (Wroe 70). Subs not used: Spiess.
Osasuna: Santamaria, Flano, Echaide, Merino, Onwu, Garcia, Benrenguer, Garcia, Kodro, Garcia, Barja. Subs used: Riesgo, Flano, Nino, Cuevas, Sisi, Mesa, Sanjuro, Cejudo, Loties, Loe.
Man of the match (Gary Jones): He may be 37 but he has looked after himself incredibly well and still clearly has much to offer.
Scored a wonderful goal and then set-up another for Hayden Mullins with a terrific free-kick.
He is a free agent and after this performance, Notts fans will wonder if a deal could be in the offing.
