The Stats Zone
August 14 2024, 23:15 · Alex Lawes

Osasuna vs Leganes Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera

Osasuna vs Leganes Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera

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Osasuna enjoyed a successful few years under the management of Jago Arrasate but the Pamplona-based club are embarking upon a new era with Vicente Moreno at the helm. They face a Leganes side that returned to La Liga last season after gaining automatic promotion from the second-tier.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Osasuna vs Leganes may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

OSASUNA PREVIEW: EVOLVING THE PAMPLONA CLUB

In the 2022/23 campaign, Osasuna managed a seventh placed finish in La Liga and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League as well as reaching the final of the Copa del Rey. However, it was a disappointing season in the 2023/24 season as they crashed out to Club Brugge in qualifying and finished in the middle-of-the-table.

Jago Arrasate has since left for Real Mallorca with former Almeria boss Vicente Moreno taking charge of Los Rojillos. Osasuna have been relatively quiet in the transfer window with just the arrivals of Abel Bretones from Real Oviedo and Bryan Zaragoza on loan from Bayern Munich. They have also lost Johan Mojica and Darko Brasanac.

LEGANES PREVIEW: NEWLY PROMOTED VISITORS

Leganes have kept hold of their manager, Borja Jimenez, formerly of Deportivo La Coruna. Los pepineros won the Segunda last season and have no significant outgoings to discuss with some key arrivals in fact. They have, in fact, been one of the busiest club’s in Spain’s top-flight and will look to establish themselves back in mid-table.

The key signing of the summer appears to be their latest with the arrival of former Sevilla and Getafe midfielder Oscar Rodriguez providing much needed quality and experience. They have also signed Valentin Rosier on a free transfer from Besiktas as well as Miguel de la Fuente and Roberto Lopez on a permanent basis.

OSASUNA TEAM NEWS: NO KIKE BARJA

During his managerial career so far, Vicente Moreno has often played a 4-2-3-1 system and that is the system that appears best for this group of Osasuna players.

The loss of Chimy Avila to Real Betis in the January transfer window and long-term injury absence of Kike Barja provides an irritation but the arrival of Bryan Zaragoza strengthens their wide positions.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Herrera; Jesus Areso, Unai Garcia, Alejandro Catena, Abel Bretones; Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torro; Bryan Zaragoza, Aimar Oroz, Ruben Garcia; Budimir

UNAVAILABLE: Kike Barja (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

LEGANES TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT AND AVAILABLE

Borja Gimenez has preferred a 4-2-3-1 system and that is the preferred formation that Leganes used on their way to returning to the top-flight last season.

The key selection dilemmas for the Leganes boss will be to stick with the players that gained promotion as title winners or begin to mould in some of the new signings with Oscar Rodriguez surely likely to start.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic; Rosier, Sergio Gonzalez, Javi Hernandez, Enric Franquesa; Neyou, Cisse; Dani Raba, Oscar, Roberto Lopez; Miguelin

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

OSASUNA VS LEGANES PREDICTION

This is a tough test for Vicente Moreno, who is looking to re-establish his reputation after a really disappointing spell at eventually relegated Almeria at the start of last season. He will face a well organised and well grooved Leganes side who appear to have added sufficient quality to avoid the drop this season. That newly promoted bounce is a mysterious thing and a good value bet may well be to side with the away team here.

OSASUNA VS LEGANES TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – LEGANES TO WIN OR DRAW