Preview: Osasuna vs. Valencia

Sports Mole previews Monday’s La Liga clash between Osasuna and Valencia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Valencia’s battle to finish in a European spot in Spain’s top flight will continue on Monday evening, when they head to El Sadar Stadium to tackle Osasuna.

Los Che are currently eighth in the La Liga table, five points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad, while Osasuna occupy ninth, five points off their opponents in this contest.

Match preview
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Osasuna will enter Monday’s clash off the back of a 3-0 success over basement side Almeria at the end of March, with Jose Arnaiz, Ante Budimir and Iker Munoz on the scoresheet at the Power Horse Stadium.

The result moved Jagoba Arrasate’s side onto 39 points from their 30 matches, which has left them in ninth spot in the table, five points behind eighth-placed Valencia and six from Real Betis in seventh.

Osasuna have been inconsistent at home this season, boasting a record of six wins, three draws and six defeats from their 15 matches in front of their own supporters, claiming 21 points in the process.

Valencia are the visitors to El Sadar on Monday, and Los Che have only managed to win four of their 15 games on their travels, with the team’s success this term built on a solid home record.

Osasuna, who finished seventh in Spain’s top flight last season, will be looking to do the league double over Valencia in 2023-24, having recorded a 2-1 success in the reverse fixture at Mestalla back in August.

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Valencia, meanwhile, will enter the clash off the back of a 1-0 win over Granada, with Andre Almeida netting the only goal of the match in the 77th minute.

Ruben Baraja’s side have won 12, drawn eight and lost 10 of their 30 league matches this season to collect 44 points, which has left them in eighth position in the table.

Los Che are only one point behind seventh-placed Real Betis and five from Real Sociedad in sixth, with the six-time Spanish champions firmly in the mix for a European position in Spain’s top flight.

Valencia finished down in 16th position last term, which proved to be their joint-lowest spot in La Liga since being relegated at the end of the 1985-86 campaign, but there has been a huge improvement this term.

Baraja’s team have only lost one of their last six matches in Spain’s top flight, and a positive result on Monday would lead them nicely into a huge game at home to Valencia next weekend.

Osasuna La Liga form:

Valencia La Liga form:

Team News
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Osasuna will be without the services of two players on Monday evening, with Unai Garcia missing due to a muscular problem, while Kike Barja is a long-term absentee due to a knee injury.

There will be a return to the squad for Lucas Torro, though, with the Spaniard missing out against Almeria due to a suspension, and he is expected to return in the middle of midfield.

Iker Munoz has scored in his last two appearances and is set to continue in the XI, while there will be another start at centre-forward for Budimir, who has netted 16 times in the league this season.

As for Valencia, Mouctar Diakhaby is a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury, while Roman Yaremchuk and Jose Gaya are out with muscular problems.

Los Che did not pick up any fresh fitness issues last time out, but Almeida is likely to come into the side, with Sergi Canos potentially dropping down to the bench.

Like Osasuna, Valencia have a striker who is enjoying an excellent campaign, with Hugo Duro finding the back of the net on 12 times in Spain’s top flight this term.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Cruz; R Garcia, Torro, Munoz, M Gomez; Budimir, Arnaiz

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Foulquier; F Perez, Guerra, Pepelu, Almeida; D Lopez, Duro

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Valencia
Valencia will enter this match full of confidence, but they have only won four of their 15 away league matches this season, and Osasuna can be a tough nut to crack. It would not be a surprise to see a home or indeed an away success here, but we are backing a score draw at El Sadar on Monday night.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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