Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Osasuna vs. Girona - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 November 2023, 10:44
Girona will be bidding to make it five straight wins in all competitions and continue their remarkable start to the 2023-24 La Liga campaign when they head to Osasuna on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors are currently second in the table, level on points (28) with leaders Real Madrid, while Osasuna sit in 11th position, having struggled for consistency in the opening months of the season.

Match preview

Osasuna enjoyed an excellent 2022-23 campaign, finishing seventh in La Liga, in addition to reaching the Copa del Rey final, but they have found it difficult to show their best form thus far this term.

Indeed, a record of four wins, one draw and six defeats from 11 matches has left them in 11th position in the table on 13 points, and they will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis.

Osasuna actually levelled the scores in the 85th minute of the clash at Estadio Benito Villamarin last weekend, with Ruben Garcia finding the back of the net, but Isco came up with a Real Betis winner in the 94th minute.

Jagoba Arrasate's side now have back-to-back home matches against Girona and Las Palmas before the international break, but their form in front of their own supporters this season has been disappointing, recording just one victory from six games in all competitions.

Goals have also been a problem, scoring just 12 in their 11 matches, but they recorded a 2-1 victory over Girona when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding match last term.

Girona's form this season has been remarkable, winning nine, drawing one and losing one of their 11 La Liga matches to collect 28 points, which has left them second in the table behind Real Madrid.

Michel's side are the joint-highest goalscorers in La Liga this season alongside Atletico Madrid, finding the back of the net on 25 occasions, and they have won their last three in the league against Cadiz, Almeria and Celta Vigo following the three-goal loss at home to Real Madrid.

The Catalan outfit also progressed in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening courtesy of a 2-1 success over San Roque Lepe, with their winning run in all competitions now at four matches.

Girona are only in their fourth season at this level of football, which makes their start even more remarkable, and they are well on course to post a record-high position in La Liga, with their current best proving to be 10th.

The White and Reds were actually close to being held to what would have been a disappointing goalless draw against Celta last weekend, but Yangel Herrera came up with a 91st-minute winner for the hosts.

Osasuna La Liga form:

D

L

W

L

W

L

Girona La Liga form:

W

W

L

W

W

W

Girona form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

W

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Osasuna will again be without the services of Juan Cruz through injury, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape heading into the contest with Girona.

Head coach Arrasate is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack from the side that started against Real Betis, but there is likely to be a start for Ruben Garcia in a forward position.

Raul Garcia and Johan Mojica are also pushing to be involved from the first whistle, but the pair are again expected to start on the bench alongside the likes of Kike Barja and Pablo Ibanez.

Girona, meanwhile, will be missing David Lopez due to the injury that he picked up in the first half of the league contest with Celta last weekend.

Juanpe should therefore come into the XI, while there might also be a spot in the side for Portu, with Yan Couto potentially moving back into a wing-back position this weekend.

The Catalan side have a host of absentees at this moment in time, with Eric Garcia, Valery Fernandez, Borja Garcia, Juan Carlos, Joel Roca, Ricard Artero and Toni Villa also out.

Head coach Michel made changes for Wednesday's Copa del Rey contest, but the team's big-hitters will be back in the side for the clash with Osasuna.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, Catena, D Garcia, Pena; Moncayola, Torro; Ruben Garcia, Oroz, Gomez; Budimir

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Juanpe, Blind; Couto, Herrera, A Garcia, Gutierrez; Portu, Dovbyk, Savio

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Girona

Girona are flying at the moment, but they are sure to hit a rough patch at some stage of the season, and this has the potential to be a tricky match despite Osasuna's problems this season. Girona are certainly good enough to win this, but we just have a feeling that a tight match could end all square.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.