Real Valladolid will be bidding to make it three straight La Liga victories when they travel to Osasuna on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors are currently 11th in Spain's top flight, boasting 14 points from their opening 11 games of the season, while Osasuna have picked up 17 points to sit in eighth position in the table.
Match preview
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Osasuna have won five, drawn two and lost four of their 11 La Liga matches this season to collect 17 points, which has left them in eighth position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Los Rojillos suffered back-to-back defeats to Valencia and Villarreal earlier this month, but they have picked up four points from their last two games against Espanyol and Girona.
Osasuna led against Girona last weekend courtesy of an effort from Kike Barja, but David Lopez levelled the scores late in the first period, and the points were ultimately shared in a 1-1 draw.
Jagoba Arrasate's side have finished 10th, 11th and 10th in La Liga since earning promotion from the Segunda Division in 2019, and they will certainly have their eyes on a top-half finish this term.
Osasuna, who will face Real Valladolid, Celta Vigo and Barcelona in their final three La Liga matches before the campaign breaks for the World Cup, have not actually beaten their opponents here since November 2013, and the points were shared in a goalless draw in the corresponding game last term.
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Real Valladolid finished second in the Segunda Division last season to secure a return to the top level, and it has been a positive start to the 2022-23 campaign for Pacheta's side.
Indeed, a record of four wins, two draws and five defeats from 11 matches has seen them collect 14 points, which is enough for 11th position in the table.
Real Valladolid have actually only lost one of their last five in the league, recording three victories in the process, including their last two against Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad.
The victory over Real Sociedad, which was secured by a first-half Sergio Leon goal, was particularly impressive considering the form of their opponents, and they would move level on points with Osasuna with another win on Sunday afternoon.
The White and Violets will take on Osasuna, Elche and Athletic Bilbao in their final three league games before the season breaks for the World Cup, and they should enter this match in a confident mood, having gone unbeaten in their last five top-flight fixtures with Arrasate's side.
Team News
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Osasuna will be missing Kike Saverio and Aridane Hernandez for this weekend's contest through injury, while Abde Ezzalzouli is also expected to be absent due to a thigh problem.
Kike Barja scored off the bench against Girona last time out and is now expected to take Ezzalzouli's spot in the starting side, while Aimar Oroz is pushing to start on the right.
Arrasate is unlikely to make many changes from the side that started last time out, though, with a 4-5-1 formation likely to include Ezequiel Avila at the tip of the attack.
As for Real Valladolid, Kenedy, Luis Perez, Anuar Tuhami and Ivan Fresneda will be unavailable for selection on Sunday afternoon due to injury.
The visitors have no fresh fitness problems from their success over Real Sociedad, though, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this match.
Leon is set to be joined in the final third of the field by Shon Weissman, while Lucas Rosa and Sergio Escudero are likely to continue in the wide positions for the in-form away side.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Vidal, U Garcia, Cruz, Sanchez; Barja, Gomez, Torro, Moncayola, Oroz; Avila
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; J Sanchez, Fernandez, El Yamiq; Rosa, Monchu, Plano, I Sanchez, Escudero; Weissman, Leon
We say: Osasuna 1-1 Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid have only lost one of their last five league matches, while four of the last five La Liga fixtures between these two sides have finished level. Osasuna will be the favourites at home, but we are expecting the points to be shared on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
