Osasuna will be aiming to continue their strong start to their 2024-25 La Liga campaign when they welcome Real Betis to Estadio El Sadar on Saturday afternoon.
The home side have picked up 15 points from their nine matches this season to sit fifth in the La Liga table, while Real Betis are 10th, having collected 12 points from their opening nine games of the campaign.
Match preview
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Osasuna have been good value this season in terms of entertainment, scoring 13 times and conceding 14, while a record of four wins, three draws and two defeats from nine matches has left them in fifth spot in the table on 15 points.
Vicente Moreno's side are currently on a four-game unbeaten run in Spain's top flight, picking up eight points from their last four matches, including a 4-2 success over Barcelona in their last fixture in front of their own fans.
Los Rojillos actually have the second-best home record in La Liga this term, picking up 13 points from their five matches, with only Real Madrid (15) collecting more points on home soil at this stage of the campaign.
Osasuna lost both league games against Real Betis last season, including a 2-0 defeat on home soil, while they have only won one of their last 12 La Liga fixtures with Saturday's opponents.
A strong start to the 2024-25 campaign will have left the home side in a confident mood, though, and the fact that they are only two points off third-placed Atletico Madrid is an indication of how impressive their form has been.
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Real Betis, meanwhile, have a record of three wins, three draws and three defeats from their nine league matches this season, with a total of 12 points leaving them in 10th spot in the table.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have been relatively solid defensively this season, only conceding eight times, which is the joint-fourth best defensive record at this stage, but they have only netted eight goals.
The Green and Whites entered the October international break off the back of successive defeats, meanwhile, losing 1-0 to Legia Warsaw in the Conference League before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla in the Seville derby.
Real Betis have only actually been victorious in one of their last five matches in all competitions, while they are yet to record a victory on their travels in La Liga during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Seville outfit's recent record against Osasuna should hand them confidence, though, having triumphed in eight of their last nine meetings in Spain's top flight.
Team News
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Osasuna will be missing two players through injury on Saturday, with Iker Munoz and Kike Barja unavailable for selection, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape heading into the clash.
Head coach Moreno could name an unchanged side from the draw with Getafe, with Ante Budimir again set to lead the line, having scored his fourth league goal of the campaign last time out.
Bryan Zaragoza has also been in strong form this season and is set to continue down the left, while Ruben Garcia is expected to keep hold of his attacking role on the opposite side.
As for Real Betis, Marc Roca, Natan, William Carvalho and Isco will miss the match through injury, while Giovani Lo Celso and Youssouf Sabaly will both need to be assessed ahead of the clash.
The absences of Roca and Natan are expected to open the door for Aitor Ruibal and Sergi Altimira to start on Saturday, but Vitor Roque should keep his role in the final third despite pressure from Cedric Bakambu.
Lo Celso has scored five of Real Betis' eight league goals this season, so it would be a major blow for the visitors if the 28-year-old fails a late fitness test.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Bretones; Ibanez, Torro, Oroz; Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Zaragoza
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Llorente, Ruibal, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Altimira; Fornals, Lo Celso, Ezzalzouli; Roque
We say: Osasuna 1-0 Real Betis
Real Betis have enjoyed a lot of recent success over Osasuna, but we are struggling to back the visitors with any real confidence here. Osasuna have been so strong at home this season, and we are expecting Moreno's team to put another three points on the board this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
