Valencia will travel to Pamplona this Friday to take on Osasuna in the eighth round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.
Venue: Estadio El Sadar (Pamplona)
Key Statistics
Osasuna have scored 2+ goals in three of their last four home games (W3, L1).
They have conceded six goals in the league this season.
The hosts have scored just eight goals in the league this season. Only six teams have scored fewer goals this season.
Valencia have scored 12 goals and conceded seven in the league this season.
They have failed to score in two league games this season.
They have kept just two clean sheets in the league this season.
They are winless in their last seven league games away from home.
Head-to-head
Valencia have won eight of the last 15 head-to-head games between both teams. Osasuna have just three wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Osasuna: D-W-L-W-W
Valencia: D-W-L-W-L
Osasuna
Osasuna will look to get back to winning ways in the league when they welcome Valencia to Pamplona this Friday.
The hosts have enjoyed a decent start to their league campaign this season having won four of their opening seven games (D1, L2).
But they have failed to win any of their last two league games in the league–first losing 2-0 to Getafe at home before holding high-flying Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw last time out.
And so, they come into this tie sitting in the sixth position, two points behind fourth-placed Real Betis. With Real Betis not in action till later in the weekend, a win in this game will take Osasuna into the top four at least for a few hours.
Having started the season so well, their aim will now be to keep pushing to stay within the top four and perhaps finish in the top four for the first time since 2005. The Basque club have never played in the Champions League group stage but can break that curse this year if they keep on the trajectory that they are currently on under Jagoba Arrasate.
Possible Osasuna starting line-up
Sergio Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Manu Sanchez, Unai Garcia, Juan Cruz; Darko Brasanac, Lucas Torro, Jon Moncayola; Moi Gomez, Abde Ezzalzouli, Kike.
Injured: Kiko Saverio
Doubtful: None
Suspended: David Garcia
Valencia
Valencia under Gennaro Gattuso has shown signs of life sometimes this season. But overall they have frustrated their fans with inconsistent displays.
The visitors have had a mixed start to their La Liga campaign winning three and losing three of their opening seven league games (D1). They continued their run of differing results each other matchday with a comeback 2-2 draw at Espanyol on Sunday.
While they showed heart to equalise in the dying minutes, the crippling issues with their defending are still obvious. After the game, Gattuso stated that his young side are still learning and he cannot simply ‘’go to the supermarket and buy experience’’.
The former Napoli coach does have a point, as Valencia’s average fielded age of 24.2 years old is the youngest in the league this season. However, their youth should not be an excuse for Valencia who are one of only four sides without an away win this campaign (D1, L2).
They will travel to Pamplona desperate for a good result and end their run of seven games away from home without a win in the league.
Possible Valencia starting line-up
Giorgi Mamardashvili; Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Mouctar Diakhaby, Jose Gaya; Andre Almeida, Hugo Guillamon, Iiaix Moriba; Samu Castillejo, Samuel Lino, Edinson Cavani.
Injured: Jaume Domenech, Yunus Musah
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Marcos Andre
Prediction
Osasuna 1-1 Valencia
