Osasunavs.Villarreal

Having collected 44 points from 37 matches, the hosts are sitting in 11th spot and eight points adrift of their eighth-placed opponents.

Match preview

Osasuna will enter the final matchday in a buoyant mood after they produced a superb away performance to end their six-game winless run with a statement 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid last weekend.

A Raul Garcia brace and goals from Aimar Oroz and Lucas Torro helped Osasuna become the second team to win a league game at the Civitas Metropolitano this season, while the result also represented the club's first away win over Atleti since April 2009.

After enjoying a successful trip to the capital, Los Rojillos will now return to El Sadar, where they have gone four games without a win since beating Alaves on March 4.

With one point separating them from 10th-placed Alaves, Osasuna will enter the final matchday with hopes of climbing up one spot to claim a third consecutive top-half finish.

Osasuna's main goal will be to claim a positive result in Arrasate's final game in charge, with the 47-year-old set to bid farewell after a memorable six-year stint with Los Rojillos.

Arrasate, who is widely expected to join Mallorca, has overseen a successful period of Osasuna's history, leading the club to promotion in 2018-19 before guiding them to the Copa del Rey final and European qualification in 2022-23.

Villarreal head coach Marcelino has overseen an upturn in fortunes since he returned to the Estadio de la Ceramica in November to become the club's third manager of the season following the departures of Quique Setien and Pacheta.

Since returning to the Villarreal dugout, Marcelino has seen his side collect a respectable 40 points from 24 matches, with only five teams picking up more points in the same period.

Unfortunately for the Yellow Submarine, their poor start to the season has cost them a European place, ensuring they will finish the campaign in eighth position and outside the top seven for the first time since 2018-19.

Although they cannot improve upon their current position, Villarreal will still be keen to extend their unbeaten run to four matches after they made it three games without defeat in last Sunday's dramatic eight-goal thriller with Real Madrid.

The Yellow Submarine fought back from 4-1 down to salvage a point, with Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth netting all four goals to move two clear of Girona's Artem Dovbyk in the race to finish the season as La Liga's top scorer.

Villarreal have fared well in recent games against Osasuna, having won each of their last three head-to-head meetings, including a 3-1 victory in November's reverse fixture.

Osasuna La Liga form:

L

L

L

D

D

W

Villarreal La Liga form:

W

W

L

W

W

D

Team News

Osasuna have confirmed that Ruben Garcia will miss the final game of the season after being forced off in the first half against Atletico due to a muscle problem.

With the 30-year-old unavailable, Moi Gomez could be presented with the chance to make his 24th league start of the season.

The hosts are also without the services of defender David Garcia and midfielder Kike Barja due to thigh and knee injuries.

As for Villareal, they are still unable to call upon the injured trio of Alfonso Pedraza, Juan Foyth and Denis Suarez.

Yeremy Pino is closing in on a return to fitness, but it remains to be whether he will be passed fit for the final matchday.

Kiko Femenia and Alex Baena are set to come into the starting lineup after missing the draw with Real Madrid through suspension.

Sorloth will have the chance to add to his 23-league tally when he resumes his forward partnership with Spain international Gerard Moreno.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Mojica; Torro, Munoz, Ibanez; Pena, Gomez, Ra Garcia

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Jorgensen; Femenia, Bailly, Mosquera, Moreno; Guedes, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Moreno, Sorloth

We say: Osasuna 1-3 Villarreal

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