Osasuna vs Alaves Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Some would describe this as a regional derby but that is a debate for another team as officially Navarre-based Osasuna take on Deportivo Alaves at El Sadar.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / US – ESPN+
Osasuna preview: Struggling Osasuna
Iver the summer, as Vicente Moreno opted to depart Osasuna, he was replaced by Italian coach Alessio Lisci, who led Mirandes to the final of the Segunda Division playoffs last year, but his race may soon be run as the hosts struggle.
They begin the match day sitting just outside of the bottom three and the relegation places on goal difference after a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona last week at Camp Nou, but they did manage to defeat Huesca in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
Alaves preview: Steady Alaves
Coached by former Celta Vigo boss Eduardo Coudet, Deportivo Alaves have steadied themselves into the middle-of-the-table in La Liga this season, having avoided relegation on the final day of last year.
The Basque outfit put in another solid performance at the Mendizorroza in Vitoria-Gasteiz last weekend, equalising mid-way through the second-half, but eventually succumbing to a 2-1 loss against Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid.
Osasuna team news: No Boyomo
Key centre-back Enzo Boyomo is unavailable for Osasuna this weekend as he is away with the Cameroonian national side at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the next few weeks.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Sergio Herrera; Jorge Herrando, Alejandro Catena, Juan Cruz; Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torro, Aimar Oroz, Abel Bretones; Victor Munoz, Raul Garcia; Budimir
Unavailable: Boyomo (International duty), Iker Benito (Injured)
Questionable:
Alaves team news: Nothing fresh
Alaves head to Pamplona with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues and so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one at El Sadar this weekend.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Antonio Sivera; Jonny, Tenaglia, Jon Pacheco, Yusi; Ander Guevara; Calebe, Pablo Ibanez, Denis Suarez, Rebbach; Lucas Boye
Unavailable: Garces (Disciplinary)
Questionable:
Osasuna vs Alaves prediction
In recent seasons, under Jago Arrasate and then under Vicente Moreno, Osasuna have played quite a front foot and proactive style of football but the Pamplona-based outfit have since drifted away from that style and are one of the toughest teams to watch as a neutral. Alaves, like Osasuna, have done a similar thing but have at least become a bit more effective in terms of getting results. Either way, a low-scoring encounter appears inevitable for this one.
Osasuna vs Alaves tip: Under 2.5 goals
