Villarreal's battle to secure Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign will continue on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Osasuna to Estadio de la Ceramica in Spain's top flight.
The Yellow Submarine are fifth in the La Liga table, one point ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis, while Osasuna are eighth, which would also equal European football next season.
Match preview
![Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/marcelino-garcia-toral.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]")
© Imago
La Liga has five Champions League league stage spots for the 2025-26 campaign, and as it stands, Villarreal are in a position which would see them secure a return to the top European table for next term.
Indeed, the Yellow Submarine boast a record of 15 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats from their 33 league matches this season, with 55 points leaving them in fifth spot, one point ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis.
Marcelino's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Espanyol, with Yeremy Pino netting the only goal of the contest in the second period to secure a vital three points for the hosts.
Villarreal have actually been better on their travels than at home this season, with 30 of their 55 points coming away from their own stadium, but Osasuna have only posted two away victories in Spain's top flight this term.
The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten against Osasuna since May 2022, but the last two meetings between the two sides have finished level, including a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture back in November.
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Osasuna are also chasing European football for next season, with Vicente Moreno's side currently eighth in the table, which is a position that would secure qualification for the Conference League playoff round.
Los Rojillos have been the draw specialists in La Liga this term, sharing the points on 14 occasions, and they have only actually lost six of their 16 away league matches during the 2024-25 campaign.
Moreno's team will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Sevilla, which made it three straight league successes, having also overcome Girona and Real Valladolid in recent weeks.
Osasuna are actually unbeaten in their last five league games, with the team finding form at the perfect stage of the campaign, especially with Europa League football still a possibility, as they sit just two points off seventh-placed Celta Vigo.
Los Rojillos finished seventh in 2022-23, but that was not enough to secure a European spot, so there is plenty on the line for the team in the final stages of the campaign.
Team News
© Imago
Villarreal will again be without the services of Ilias Akhomach through injury, while Raul Albiol, Alex Baena and Gerard Moreno remain fitness doubts for the Yellow Submarine ahead of the contest.
The hosts will also be missing Pino through suspension, but Eric Bailly has served a ban of his own and will therefore be back in the squad for the clash with Osasuna.
Alfonso Pedraza will likely be given the nod down the left if Baena is unable to prove his fitness, but Ayoze Perez should once again be joined by Thierno Barry in the final third of the field.
As for Osasuna, Raul Garcia and Jon Moncayola will miss the match due to injury problems, while Alejandro Catena is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Sevilla.
Unai Garcia is expected to be introduced into the defensive unit as a replacement for Catena, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla.
Ante Budimir has been in excellent form for the team this season, scoring 18 times in Spain's top flight, and he will once again operate in the final third of the field for the European hopefuls.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Luiz Junior; Femenia, Foyth, L Costa, S Cardona; Pepe, Comesana, Parejo, Pedraza; Perez, Barry
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, U Garcia, Boyomo, Herrando, Bretones; Ibanez, Torro, Oroz; Ruben Garcia, Budimir
We say: Villarreal 1-1 Osasuna
Osasuna have drawn 14 of their 33 league matches this season, and we are predicting another stalemate here; Villarreal have home advantage, but it might be a frustrating afternoon for the Yellow Submarine.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
