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

Osasuna have picked up six points from their five league games this season, which has left them in 12th position in the table, while Sevilla are 17th, boasting only three points from their first four matches.

Match preview

Osasuna have had a tough start to the season, namely losing to Club Brugge in the playoff round for the Europa Conference League, with the La Liga outfit failing to qualify for the group stage of the competition.

Jagoba Arrasate's side have thus far not managed to shake off the disappointment of the European exit, losing their two league matches since, including a 3-2 defeat to Getafe last time out.

Osasuna were heading for a point at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday, only for the home side to win it in the 86th minute, and a total of six points from five matches has left Los Rojillos in 12th spot in the table.

Arrasate's team finished seventh in La Liga last season and will have their eyes on a similar spot this term, but they will need to start finding a consistent run of form.

Osasuna's next two in the league are against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, while they will also head to Real Madrid at the start of next month, so the big matches are coming thick and fast for the Pamplona-based outfit.

Sevilla, meanwhile, lost each of their first four matches of the 2023-24 campaign, which included a penalty-shootout defeat to Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup on August 16.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's team also lost to Valencia, Alaves and Girona in their first three matches of the new league season, but they managed to return to winning ways after the international break, beating Las Palmas 1-0 at Estadio Ramon courtesy of a second-half goal from Dodi Lukebakio.

Sevilla are down in 17th in the table on three points, but they have a game in hand on 18 of the other 19 teams in the league, as their clash with Atletico Madrid, which was scheduled for earlier this month, had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Los Nervionenses were in Champions League action on Wednesday evening, meanwhile, opening their Group B campaign with a 1-1 draw against Lens on home soil.

Sevilla are winless in their last three league games against Osasuna, with Arrasate's side winning both matches during the 2022-23 campaign, including a 2-1 victory in the corresponding game.

Osasuna La Liga form:

Osasuna form (all competitions):

Sevilla La Liga form:

Sevilla form (all competitions):

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Team News

Osasuna will again be missing Unai Garcia, Jon Moncayola and Darko Brasanac through injury on Saturday, but Alejandro Catena will be back in the squad after serving a suspension.

Catena should return in the middle of the defence, while there are also expected to be alterations in the final third of the field, with Jose Arnaiz and Ruben Garcia potentially being introduced.

Head coach Arrasate is attempting to find a winning formula early in the season, and the likes of Pablo Ibanez and Raul Garcia are also options for change in this match.

Sevilla, meanwhile, will be missing Marcos Acuna, Marcao, Tanguy Nianzou and Alfonso Pastor through injury.

There will be changes from the side that started against Lens in the Champions League, with Loic Bade and Jesus Navas set to be recalled to the back four for this match.

Oliver Torres could also be introduced in an attacking area, with Lukebakio, Suso and Mariano Diaz expected to provide options from the bench.

Youssef En-Nesyri started on Wednesday ahead of Rafa Mir and that is again expected to be the case in this match, with the former netting twice in six appearances this season.

Sergio Ramos is also set to continue in the middle of the defence, with the 37-year-old now featuring twice since returning to the club on a free transfer.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Pena, D Garcia, Catena, Cruz; Oroz, Munoz, M Gomez; Arnaiz, Budimir, Ruben Garcia

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Navas, Bade, Ramos, Pedrosa; Sow, Rakitic; Lamela, Torres, Ocampos; En-Nesyri

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Sevilla

Sevilla are a tough team to back at the moment, as it is difficult to know what to expect on a game-to-game basis. Osasuna have not exactly been flying this season, but we do not see them losing this match, so a score draw could be on the cards at Estadio El Sadar.

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