Preview: Osasuna vs. Celta Vigo - prediction, team news, lineups

The Sky Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat to the champions in their 2021-22 campaign opener, while Osasuna started the new season with a goalless draw at home to Espanyol last weekend.

Match preview

Osasuna returned to this level of football for the 2019-20 campaign and have finished 10th and 11th in their last two La Liga seasons, which have been their best performances in the top flight for 10 years.

Last term, Los Rojillos won 11, drew 11 and lost 16 of their 38 league matches to collect 44 points, which left them 10 points clear of the relegation zone and just two points behind ninth-place Granada.

Jagoba Arrasate's side will be eyeing a top-half finish this season, and they are already off the mark in terms of points, having played out a goalless draw with Espanyol in their campaign opener last Saturday.

Osasuna have had a busy summer in terms of incomings and indeed outgoings; Ante Budimir, Jonas Ramalho, Jose Angel, Kike Garcia, Jesus Areso and Manu Sanchez have all arrived, but there have been notable departures in the shape of Marc Cardona, Enric Gallego, Adrian Lopez and Facundo Roncaglia.

Celta, like Osasuna, enjoyed an impressive 2021-22 campaign, claiming 53 points from their 38 matches to finish in eighth position, just five points behind seventh-place Villarreal.

Eighth represented the club's highest final placing in Spain's top flight since the 2015-16 season, and head coach Eduardo Coudet has made a huge impression since taking charge last November.

Celta gave an excellent account of themselves in their season opener against Atletico last weekend, with Iago Aspas cancelling out an effort from Angel Correa to leave the two sides level just before the hour, but Correa netted once again for the champions to secure a 2-1 victory in Vigo.

Coudet's team have secured deals for Franco Cervi and Javi Galan this summer, while Matias Dituro has arrived on loan, and a number of players have left on free transfers, including David Junca and Jozabed Sanchez.

Celta had the ninth-best away form in Spain's top flight last season, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Osasuna in the corresponding league match and have not beaten Monday's opponents away from home since May 2014.

Osasuna La Liga form:

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

Team News

Osasuna will again be without the services of Rober Ibanez on Monday due to an abductor injury, but Aridane Hernandez, Lucas Torro and Jose Angel all have a chance of being involved following recent issues.

Head coach Arrasate is expected to make changes from the side that started against Espanyol, while there could be a switch to a 4-3-3 formation.

Budimir is a certain starter in the centre-forward position, which could see Darko Brasanac drop into a deeper position, with Ruben Garcia moving from a defensive area to join Budimir and Kike Barja in attack.

As for Celta, Hugo Mallo is suspended due to the red card that he picked up against Atletico, which could open the door for Kevin Vazquez to feature at right-back from the first whistle.

Coudet does not have any injury concerns, though, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see the same side, other than Mallo, take to the field for Monday's contest.

Santi Mina and Aspas are certainties in the final third of the field, while Nolito, Denis Suarez and Brais Mendez should again operate slightly ahead of the holding midfielder Renato Tapia.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, D Garcia, Hernandez, Sanchez; Brasanac, Moncayola, Torro; Barja, Budimir, R Garcia

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Dituro; Vazquez, Araujo, Fontan, Galan; Tapia; Mendez, Suarez, Nolito; Aspas, Mina

We say: Osasuna 0-1 Celta Vigo

Celta were unfortunate to lose against Atletico last time out, and we can see the Sky Blues picking up a positive result here. Osasuna dropped points in 12 of their 19 home league matches last term, and Celta's quality in the forward areas has led us to back a narrow away victory on Monday night.