Osasuna were thrashed 4-0 by Real Madrid on the final matchday before the international break, while Villarreal beat Alaves 3-0 to record a third consecutive victory in all competitions.
Match preview
Osasuna have won six, drawn three and lost four of their 13 La Liga meetings this season to collect 21 points, enough for fifth spot in the table and only three points behind Villarreal in fourth place.
Los Rojillos had recorded three consecutive victories over Real Sociedad, Osasuna, and Chiclana before their visit to Real Madrid before the international break; however, they were defeated 4-0 by an injured Los Blancos outfit.
The side of Vicente Moreno is going to try to get back on track this weekend, and they have been very good at their own backyard this season, carrying the second-best home record with 16 points earned from seven matches.
Osasuna finished 11th in Spain’s top flight last season, but they were seventh in 2022-23 and certainly look capable of claiming a similar spot this term, with there being plenty of encouraging signs in the opening months of the season.
The Pamplona outfit are winless in their last four La Liga matches against Villarreal, suffering three defeats in the process, but the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign ended in a 1-1 draw.
Villarreal, on the other hand, head into this clash on the back of three wins on the trot against Real Valladolid, Poblense, and Alaves, while they are undefeated in all competitions since their 2-0 loss to Real Madrid at the start of October.
Marcelino’s team have recorded seven wins, three draws and two defeats from their 12 La Liga matches this season, in which they collected 24 points, and are only three points behind second-placed Real Madrid on the same number of games.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid are only two points ahead of them and have played a game more, so it has been a strong start to the campaign for the Yellow Submarine, who have found the back of the net 23 times in their 12 matches.
Marcelino’s team are the third-highest scorers in La Liga this term behind Barcelona-who have plundered 40 goals-and Real Madrid, who have hit 25, but they have leaked 19 times and will certainly have to tighten up at the back if they want a top-four finish.
Villarreal finished down in eighth in Spain’s top flight last season, so they are not playing European football in 2024-25, which could aid them in their attempts to return to Europe next term.
Osasuna La Liga form:
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Osasuna form (all competitions):
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Villarreal La Liga form:
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Villarreal form (all competitions):
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Team News
Osasuna have two injury doubts ahead of their clash against Villarreal, with Iker Benito and Kike Barja struggling, but Juan Cruz should be back in the squad after missing out against Real Madrid.
Head coach Moreno will not panic following the heavy defeat to Real Madrid last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for the clash with Villarreal.
Ante Budimir has netted six La Liga goals this season and will once more operate through the middle, while there should be spots in the final third of the field for both Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Pena.
Villarreal, meanwhile, have been hit with the news that Ayoze Perez is facing more time out with the muscular problem that he suffered during the November international break with Spain.
Perez has netted seven times in nine La Liga games this term and his absence will be a huge setback, while Pape Gueye, Alex Baena, Ilias Akhomach, Nicolas Pepe, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza are similarly absent.
Given the list of absentees, there will have to be a number of changes to the side that started against Alaves, meaning that there should be starts for the likes of Yeremy Pino, Juan Bernat, Thierno Barry and Santi Comesana.
possible starting lineups
Osasuna
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Bretones; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; Pena, Budimir, Zaragoza
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Femenia, Albiol, Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Parejo, Suarez, Bernat; Barry
We say: Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal
Even with a full squad, it would be bold to back a Villarreal win here considering Osasuna’s home record this season; it would not be a surprise to see the hosts edge this one, but we are expecting the Yellow Submarine to be good enough for a point on Sunday afternoon.
