Preview: Osasuna vs. Villarreal - prediction, team news, lineups

Osasuna are currently eighth in the table, boasting 34 points from their 25 league matches this season, while Villarreal sit sixth, four points above their opponents in this weekend's contest.

Match preview

Osasuna are in a strong position to reach the final of this season's Copa del Rey, having recorded a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their semi-final at the start of the month.

Jagoba Arrasate's side will travel to San Mames for the second leg of the last-four clash early next month but must first negotiate two league fixtures with Villarreal and Mallorca.

Osasuna were last victorious in La Liga away to Sevilla at the end of February, picking up just one point from their last two matches, including a 1-0 defeat to struggling Valencia last time out.

A successful campaign to date has left Los Rojillos in eighth position in the table, though, only four points behind sixth-placed Villarreal, so they are in the hunt for a European finish at this stage.

Osasuna's home form this season has been mixed, picking up 19 points from 12 matches, and they will be welcoming a Villarreal outfit with the seventh-best away form in Spain's top flight this term.

Villarreal suffered European disappointment on Thursday evening, losing 1-0 to Anderlecht in the second leg of their last-16 clash in the Europa Conference League, which saw them exit the tournament 2-1 on aggregate.

The Yellow Submarine were viewed as one of the favourites for the competition, but they now only have league football to focus on for the remainder of the campaign, which could help them secure a top-six finish.

Villarreal's recent form in Spain's top flight has been impressive, picking up seven points from their last three matches courtesy of wins over Getafe and Almeria, and a draw with Real Betis last time out.

Quique Setien's side have some tough matches to come, with their two games at the start of April seeing them welcome Real Sociedad before visiting the champions Real Madrid.

Villarreal, as mentioned, currently occupy sixth position, three points clear of seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano and four behind Real Betis directly above them.

The Yellow Submarine recorded a 2-0 win over Osasuna in the reverse game earlier this season, but they suffered a 1-0 loss when the two teams locked horns for the corresponding game last term.

Osasuna La Liga form:

D

D

L

W

D

L

Osasuna form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

D

L

Villarreal La Liga form:

L

L

L

W

W

D

Villarreal form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

D

L

Team News

Osasuna will again be missing Ruben Pena due to a leg injury, while Aimar Oroz is suspended due to the late yellow card that he picked up against Valencia last time out.

The home side have no fresh injury problems, but there are likely to be changes from the side that started against Valencia, with Ante Budimir, Nacho Vidal and Darko Brasanac all potentially coming into the XI.

Kike Garcia is expected to be the player to make way for Budimir in the final third of the field, while Pablo Ibanez could drop out to allow Brasanac to feature in midfield.

As for Villarreal, Alex Baena is suspended following his yellow card against Real Betis in the league last weekend, while Francis Coquelin is out for the season with a serious knee injury.

Pau Torres and Raul Albiol are expected to come back into the starting side, having been unused substitutes against Anderlecht in Europe on Thursday night.

Yeremy Pino should also be introduced back into the XI, with Setien potentially selecting the same team that took to the field for the league game with Real Betis last Sunday.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, Aridane, D Garcia, Cruz; Brasanac, Torro, M Gomez; Avila, Budimir, Ezzalzouli

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Reina; Foyth, Albiol, P Torres, Pedraza; Terrats, Parejo, Trigueros; Chukwueze, G Moreno, Pino

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal

Osasuna will certainly be the fresher of the two teams heading into the contest, which should hand them an advantage. Arrasate's side have actually only drawn once at home in the league this season, but we just have a feeling that the points are going to be shared on Sunday afternoon.

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