Osasuna vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Osasuna have pushed themselves into contention for European qualification as the Pamplona-based outfit now welcome Villarreal to El Sadar in Navarre.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / 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 – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Osasuna preview: Push for Europe
Osasuna come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Rayo Vallecano in their most recent outing at Vallecas in Madrid, courtesy of a couple of late goals that has seen them in the hunt for a top seven or eight finish in La Liga.
That means that the home team have now enjoyed back-to-back victories and they have now suffered just one defeat in their last five league games under the management of former Mirandes boss Alessio Lisci.
Villarreal preview: A decline in form
Villarreal have been close to the title race in Spain’s top-flight for quite a while but the Yellow Submarine have since drifted away from that and will now simply be pushing for the top four and UEFA Champions League spots, once again.
Marcelino’s men come into this one on the back of four defeats in their last six matches across all competitions, having suffered three losses in five La Liga matches with a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis at La Cartuja in Seville last week.
Osasuna team news: Nothing fresh
Osasuna have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one and so the home team will be able to name an unchanged eleven for the visit of Villarreal.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Herrera; Rosier, Boyomo, Jorge Herrando, Javi Galan; Jon Moncayola, Iker Munoz; Raul Garcia, Aimar Oroz, Victor Munoz; Budimir
Unavailable: Iker Benito (Injured)
Questionable:
Villarreal team news: Attacking doubts
New signing Alfon, who had joined from Sevilla, is now a key doubt for the visitors this weekend alongside experienced Spain international striker Ayoze Perez.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Pau Navarro, Rafa Marin, Veiga, Alfonso; Buchanan, Dani Parejo, Gueye, Alberto Moleiro; Gerard, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Kambwala (Injured), Foyth (Injured), Pau Cabanes (Injured)
Questionable: Alfon (Injured), Ayoze (Injured)
Osasuna vs Villarreal prediction
Osasuna began this season slowly with a very defensive style of football that saw Lisci get the minnows of Mirandes into the playoff final in the second division last season. Villarreal had been one of the stories of the season but they have drifted away from league leaders Barcelona and now, with home advantage in Pamplona, siding with Osasuna could be the way to go for this one.
Osasuna vs Villarreal tip: Double chance – Osasuna to win or draw
