Osasuna vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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After a change in management in the summer, Osasuna are playing relatively poorly but getting results as they now take on a Barcelona side that are becoming unstoppable in the early stages of this La Liga campaign.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 28th September, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Osasuna vs Barcelona may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
OSASUNA PREVIEW: HONEST OSASUNA
Jago Arrasate departed Osasuna this summer to take the reins at Real Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. As a result of that decision, the Pamplona-based club, rather hurriedly, appointed Vicente Moreno, who struggled with Almeria last year, and performances haven’t been great but they have managed to collect 11 points from their opening seven matches.
The home team come into this one on the back of a goalless draw with struggling Valencia at Mestalla in midweek with another fairly average performance. That followed on from a 2-1 defeat against Las Palmas at El Sadar in which Aimar Oroz scored a 60th minute winning goal for Vicente Moreno’s side.
BARCELONA PREVIEW: BELLIGERENT BLAUGRANA
In their opening seven matches of the 2024/25 La Liga season, Barcelona have collected the maximum 21 points with 23 goals scored in that time, too. The Catalans are running rampant at the top-of-the-table but also showed another side to their game to grind out a hard-fought victory in midweek.
After thrashing Villarreal by five goals to one at El Madrigal last weekend, Hansi Flick’s side hosted a difficult to beat Getafe side at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in midweek with Poland captain Robert Lewandowski scoring the only goal of the game in the 19th minute to separate the two sides.
OSASUNA TEAM NEWS: FRESH INJURY
Playing what is quite an open and attractive 4-3-3, Osasuna require everyone available at the moment but they now have a fresh injury concern for this weekend.
Iker Munoz and Kike Barja have been key first-team absentees throughout the campaign but now Jon Moncayola, after a strong start to the season, is also sidelined.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Sergio Herrera; Jesus Areso, Boyomo, Jon Herrando, Abel Bretones; Pablo Ibanez, Lucas Torro, Aimar Oroz; Ruben Pena, Raul Garcia, Moi Gomez
UNAVAILABLE: Jon Moncayola (Injured), Iker Munoz (Injured), Kike Barja (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS: LONG INJURY LIST
With a total rupture of the patella tendon against Villarreal last weekend, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to miss the rest of this season with Inaki Pena their new current number one.
Barca are dealing with several injury absentees once again for this weekend as long-term issues Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong remain sidelined for the Blaugrana.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Inaki Pena; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Eric Garcia, Marc Casado; Ferran Torres, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
UNAVAILABLE: Ter Stegen (Injured), Ronald Araujo (Injured), Christensen (Injured), Marc Bernal (Injured), Fermin Lopez (Injured), De Jong (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Dani Olmo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lamine Yamal (Injured)
OSASUNA VS BARCELONA PREDICTION
Vicente Moreno is known for a more attacking style of football and Osasuna have been able to implement that this year but all three of their wins have come at El Sadar and all three have had large spells of the game where the other side were firmly on top. Barcelona are depleted and have UEFA Champions League football to be distracted by, too, but the likelihood is a fun Barca win.
OSASUNA VS BARCELONA TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
