Preview: Huesca vs. Eibar - prediction, team news, lineups

Huesca will be hoping to move out of the La Liga relegation zone on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Eibar to Estadio El Alcoraz.

The newly-promoted club are currently 19th in the table with just five points to show from their eight matches this season, while Eibar sit in 15th spot, having collected eight points from as many matches.

Match preview

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Winners of the 2019-20 Segunda Division, Huesca were always going to be in for a challenging campaign, and a tough start to the season has left them in 19th position in Spain's top flight.

The newly-promoted outfit are one of just two teams in La Liga - the other being Real Valladolid - yet to record a victory during the 2020-21 campaign and have actually drawn five of their eight matches thus far.

Michel 's side shared the points in four straight matches between September 26 and October 18 but have now lost their last two, both 4-1, to league leaders Real Sociedad and reigning champions Real Madrid.

The fact that Huesca have only lost three of their opening eight games is certainly a positive, but the club's supporters will be concerned that their side are yet to triumph in 2020-21.

There are only three points separating Huesca from Barcelona in 12th, though, and a victory on Saturday afternoon would undoubtedly propel them up the division ahead of the international break.

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Eibar, meanwhile, have won two, drawn two and lost four of their eight matches this season to collect eight points, which has left them in 15th position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.

The Basque club, who finished 14th in Spain's top flight last season, picked up three impressive results between October 3 and October 24, beating Real Valladolid and Sevilla, in addition to drawing with Osasuna.

Jose Luis Mendilibar 's side will enter this match off the back of a disappointing 2-0 home defeat, though, with Cadiz collecting all three points from last weekend's affair courtesy of goals from Alvaro Negredo and Salvador Sanchez.

Eibar have not actually operated outside of the top tier since the 2013-14 campaign, which is an indication of their standing at this level. They were only six points clear of the relegation zone last season, though, and will be determined not to lose their final game ahead of the November international break.

Huesca La Liga form: DDDDLL

Eibar La Liga form: LLWDWL

Team News

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Huesca will again be without the services of Pedro Lopez and Antonio Valera through injury, while experienced forward Shinji Okazaki remains a doubt.

Mikel Rico is also unavailable due to a recent positive test for coronavirus, but the home side did not pick up any fresh issues in the 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid last weekend.

Head coach Michel is expected to shuffle his pack from the clash in the capital, with Javier Galan, David Ferreiro and Sandro Ramirez all in line for starting roles.

As for Eibar, Pedro Leon, Sergio Cubero and Cote remain unavailable for selection through injury, while Recio is still a doubt due to a muscular problem.

Mendilibar is expected to stick with the majority of the side that started against Cadiz despite the disappointing result, with Kike again likely to lead the line.

Damian Kadzior is pushing for a spot in an attacking position, though, and on-loan Newcastle United striker Yoshinori Muto is also expected to come into the manager's thinking for a position in the starting XI.

Huesca possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Maffeo, Pulido, Siovas, Luisinho; Galan, Mosquera, Nwakali, Ferreiro; Mir, Sandro

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Pozo, Olivera, Burgos, Arbilla; Diop, Alvarez; Kadzior, Gil, Inui; Kike

We say: Huesca 1-1 Eibar

Huesca have been the draw specialists in La Liga this season, and we are finding it difficult to back anything other than another stalemate here. Eibar will be keen to return to winning ways on Saturday, but a point would not be the worst outcome for the visitors.

Top betting tip

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