 In the following campaign he only missed one match and netted on five occasions, helping his team finish seventh in La Liga.Astudillo remained loyal to Alavés throughout the vast majority of his Spanish stint, playing in divisions one and two as they were twice relegated from the former (in 2003–04, he collected a season-worst 19 yellow cards).However, in January 2008, he rejoined the top flight, signing on loan with CA Osasuna who had lost another central midfielder, Javad Nekounam, severely injured in preseason.