Osasuna vs Villarreal: Spanish Championship Match Prediction

Current form

Having taken time off to help his homeland of Massanassa recover from devastating floods, Osasuna manager Vicente Moreno may have had a more modest view of his side’s 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Watching from the stands while serving a league ban, Moreno saw his side lose as underdogs for just the third time this season and subsequently fall out of the top four. With a near-perfect home record in La Liga this season, which includes a 4-2 success over league leaders Barcelona, the hosts should have no fears against a top-flight side from Valencia.

Disqualifications and injuries

Betino will not be able to play today (muscle injury).

Interesting trends for betting

• Penalty taker Ante Budimir has opened the scoring in three separate La Liga home games for Osasuna this season, as well as a corresponding match in 2023/24.
• Osasuna have won all five home games in which they have scored first

Tentative lineup: Herrera – Cateno, Arezo, Catena, Cruz – Muñoz, Moncayola, Torro, Gomez – Budimir.

Current form

Villarreal are looking to win three games in a row in La Liga for the first time this season after two failed attempts, and the international break in November has proven ill-timed in many ways, especially given their next four league games against clubs who all have legitimate claims to a top-six finish. Most of the six players called up to the national team have reportedly returned with physical problems, including regular starters Alex Baena, Thierno Barry, Ayoze Perez and Nicolas Pepe.

They now have a lengthy injury list that already includes Eric Bailly and Gerard Moreno, which threatens to undo all the outstanding work the team have put in to put together their best start to a La Liga campaign in more than a decade, and one that has seen them take 23 of a possible 27 points from opponents starting this round outside the top four.

Disqualifications and injuries

Gueye (injury), Ahomach (knee injury), Moreno (muscle injury) and Suarez (muscle injury) will not be able to take to the pitch.

Interesting trends for betting

• Villarreal Ayoze Perez is having a great time, scoring a last-minute winner in Villarreal final La Liga game, his fourth league goal of the season, and a hat-trick in his side Copa del Rey thrashing
• Villarreal have had five league wins come after goals in the 84th minute or later

Estimated composition: Alcoado - Kiko Femenia, Albiol, Pedraza, Cardona - Terrats, Comesana, Pareja - Danjuma, Pino.