Preview: Villarreal vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news

Villarreal will be looking to make it seven straight victories in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Osasuna on Sunday afternoon.

The Yellow Submarine are currently seventh in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Real Sociedad, while Osasuna occupy 14th position, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Villarreal have placed themselves in a strong position to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their last-eight tie on Thursday evening, with Gerard Moreno scoring the only goal of the contest just before the half-time break.

Unai Emery 's side will fancy their chances of finishing the job in the second leg next week but must first focus on league matters as they look to move into fifth position in the table.

The Yellow Submarine have been victorious in each of their last three matches in Spain's top flight, including a 3-0 success away to Granada on April 3, which has moved them level on points with fifth-placed Real Sociedad.

The top four will be beyond Villarreal this term, but there is no question that securing fifth and advancing to the semi-finals of the Europa League and possibly beyond would go down as a strong campaign.

Emery's team have only lost two of their 14 home league matches this term, but they have been held on six occasions at Estadio de la Ceramica.

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Osasuna, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a goalless draw with Getafe last weekend; Jagoba Arrasate 's side have now played out 0-0 draws in each of their last three matches, having also shared the points with Real Valladolid and Huesca since losing to Barcelona.

Los Rojillos have won seven, drawn 10 and lost 12 of their 29 league matches this season to collect 31 points, which has left them in 14th spot in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.

Osasuna are seven points clear of the bottom three, meaning that it would be a surprise to see them pulled into trouble, but they are far from safe at this stage of the campaign.

Arrasate's team have only actually lost six of their 14 away league matches this term, which is a strong record considering their position in the table, but they have been beaten in their last two games with Villarreal, including a 3-1 reverse back in December.

Villarreal La Liga form:

D

L

L

W

W

W

Villarreal form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Osasuna La Liga form:

L

W

L

D

D

D

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Team News

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Villarreal will again be without the services of Pervis Estupinan and Vicente Iborra this weekend through injury, but Juan Foyth is available after serving a domestic suspension against Granada.

Head coach Emery is likely to make changes from the team that started in the Europa League, with Paco Alcacer, Sergio Asenjo, Mario Gaspar and Alberto Moreno all set to feature.

It is still expected to be a strong side, though, with Gerard Moreno and Samuel Chukwueze retaining their spots in the final third and Dani Parejo lining up in the middle of the park.

As for Osasuna, Ruben Martinez remains unavailable for selection due to a finger injury, while the match is also expected to come too soon for Inigo Perez.

Jon Moncayola is available following a suspension, though, and is expected to return to the middle of the park; Jony is also in contention to feature, having recovered from a thigh problem.

Arrasate has plenty of options for change in the final third of the field, but Jonathan Calleri should retain his spot over Ante Budimir, while Roberto Torres might also have to accept a spot on the bench once again.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, A Moreno; Parejo, Capoue, Trigueros; G Moreno, Alcacer, Chukwueze

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, Hernandez, D Garcia, Cruz; Brasanac, Torro, Moncayola; Barja, Calleri, R Garcia

We say: Villarreal 1-0 Osasuna

Osasuna have had longer to prepare for this contest, but Villarreal should be in a confident mood following an impressive run of form. There could be a Europa League hangover for the Yellow Submarine, who will have one eye on next week's last-eight second leg. Emery's side should have enough to triumph this weekend, though, and we fancy a low-scoring game at Estadio de la Ceramica.

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