Two teams that could yet be pulled into a relegation scrap in La Liga will lock horns at El Sadar on Sunday afternoon, with Osasuna welcoming Girona.
Osasuna are currently 13th in the La Liga table, seven points above 18th-placed Leganes, while 15th-placed Girona are just six points outside of the relegation zone heading towards the final straight.
Match preview
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Osasuna are without a victory in Spain's top flight since the start of February, failing to triumph in their last nine games in all competitions, which has seen them drop down the La Liga table.
Vicente Moreno's side have a record of seven wins, 14 draws and nine defeats from their 30 league matches this season, with 35 points leaving them in 13th spot in the table, seven points clear of 18th-placed Leganes.
Los Rojillos will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Leganes, and they have been the stalemate specialists in Spain's top flight this term, with almost half of their league games this season ending in a share of the spoils.
Osasuna have the seventh-best home record in La Liga this season, picking up 24 points from their 15 games in front of their own fans, while Girona have struggled on their travels, claiming just 13 points from 15 away fixtures.
Los Rojillos have actually lost each of their last three league fixtures with Girona, including a 4-0 reverse earlier this season, while they were beaten 4-2 by the Catalan outfit in the corresponding fixture last term.
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Girona had an extraordinary 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in La Liga, which saw them qualify for this season's Champions League, but it has been a much more testing campaign for the club this time around.
Indeed, a record of nine wins, seven draws and 17 defeats from 30 matches has brought them 34 points, which is only enough for 15th spot, six points clear of the relegation zone.
Michel's side have been dangerously sliding towards the bottom three in recent weeks, having failed to pick up all three points since the start of February, losing five of their last eight in the league and drawing the other three.
Girona will enter this match off the back of successive losses to Barcelona and Alaves, and it is certainly not impossible to imagine them being pulled into the relegation battle if their form does not improve over the next couple of weeks.
Team News
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Osasuna still have a doubt over the fitness of Bryan Zaragoza, with the Spaniard potentially unavailable once again, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape for the contest with Girona.
Ante Budimir is enjoying an outstanding campaign for the club, finding the back of the net on 15 occasions in Spain's top flight, and he is again set to be joined by Ruben Garcia in the final third of the field.
Head coach Moreno could name the same side that started against Leganes last time out, although Pablo Ibanez and Moi Gomez will be in the manager's thinking when it comes to potential alterations.
Girona, meanwhile, will be without the services of Ivan Martin through injury, while late checks need to be made on Ricard Artero and Bryan Gil to determine their availability for the contest.
Head coach Michel is expected to make changes to the side that started the home defeat to Alaves last time out, with Viktor Tsygankov and Arthur potentially being introduced into the XI.
Abel Ruiz is again likely to be given the nod through the middle for the Catalan team, but the experienced Cristhian Stuani will be in the thoughts of the manager when it comes to possible changes on Sunday.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Herrando, Bretones; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; Ruben Garcia, Budimir
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Frances, Blind, Krejci, Gutierrez; Arthur, Herrera; Tsygankov, Van de Beek, Danjuma; Ruiz
We say: Osasuna 1-0 Girona
Both of these teams are in disappointing form, and a defeat for either would be damaging at this stage of the season; it would not be a surprise to see the points shared, but we believe that Osasuna will be able to navigate their way to all three points due to their impressive home record.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
