Osasunavs.Valencia

Los Che are currently 18th in the La Liga table, level on points with 17th-placed Las Palmas, while Osasuna are 12th, only three points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano in the race to secure European football.

Match preview

Osasuna have won seven, drawn 11 and lost seven of their 25 league matches this season to collect 32 points, which has left them in 12th spot in the table, three points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Los Rojillos finished 11th in Spain's top flight last term, but they were seventh in 2022-23, so it would not be a surprise to see them high up the division this term, with sixth certainly an achievable target.

Vicente Moreno's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo, and they have only picked up two points from their last three league games, but that run includes a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid.

Osasuna beat Real Sociedad at the start of the month, meanwhile, and they have been in impressive form on home soil this season, picking up 23 points from their 13 matches in front of their own supporters.

Los Rojillos drew 0-0 with Valencia at Mestalla in the reverse game between the two sides earlier this season, but it was 1-0 to Los Che in the corresponding fixture during the 2023-24 campaign.

Valencia have a record of five wins, eight draws and 12 defeats from their 25 league matches this season, with 23 points leaving them in 18th spot in the table, level on points with 17th-placed Las Palmas.

Los Che will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Atletico, with that loss ending a three-game unbeaten run in La Liga, which saw Carlos Corberan's side claim seven points.

Valencia have struggled on their travels this season, failing to triumph in 12 matches, which is an indication of the size of their task in this match, while they have found the back of the net on just seven occasions away from home in La Liga this term.

The six-time Spanish champions have not been relegated from Spain's top flight since 1987, and there is no question that it would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition if they dropped out of La Liga this season.

There are still plenty of points to play for - their away form is a concern, but Valencia have actually won on each of their last three trips to Osasuna in Spain's top flight, including a 1-0 success last term.

Osasuna La Liga form:

D

D

W

D

D

L

Osasuna form (all competitions):

D

W

L

D

D

L

Valencia La Liga form:

W

L

W

W

D

L

Valencia form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

L

Team News

Osasuna will welcome Jesus Areso and Aimar Oroz back into their squad after the pair missed out against Celta through suspension.

Areso and Oroz are both expected to come back into the XI for this match, but head coach Moreno is likely to continue with a 5-3-2 formation, including Bryan Zaragoza alongside Ante Budimir in the final third of the field.

Budimir has again been in strong form this season, scoring 13 times in Spain's top flight, and the 33-year-old will be bidding to fire his side to another three points in Sunday's affair.

As for Valencia, Thierry Correia remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury, but Los Che are otherwise in strong shape, and there will be changes from the side that started against Atletico.

Hugo Duro and Andre Almeida are both set to be introduced in the final third of the field, with a change of formation likely to occur after the team's struggles in a three-man defence against Atletico.

Head coach Corberan should revert to a back four, while there is expected to be a position in the final third of the field for Diego Lopez, with vast changes likely to occur following the clash with Atletico at Mestalla.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Herrando, Bretones; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; Budimir, Zaragoza

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; Pepelu, Barrenechea, Guerra; Almeida, Duro, D Lopez

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Valencia

There has only been one league draw between these two sides since January 2021, but that occurred earlier this season at Mestalla - it would not be a shock to see either win this clash, but Valencia's away struggles would make a point a positive result, and we are expecting Los Che to be good enough for a draw on Sunday.

Written by

Matt Law

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