MX23RW : Monday, May 9 15:36:22| >> :120:6635:6635:
[monks data]
May 1, 2022 at 1pm UK at Martinez Valero
Elche
1 - 1
Osasuna
Milla (84')
Fidel (36'), Roco (41'), Mascarell (43'), Carrillo (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Budimir (67' pen.)
Budimir (44'), Cruz (64')

Preview: Elche vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Elche and Osasuna, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Elche will be bidding to make it three La Liga wins in a row when they welcome Osasuna to Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on Saturday afternoon.

The home side are currently 14th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone, while Osasuna occupy ninth position, four points behind eight-placed Athletic Bilbao.


Match preview

Elche's Fidel celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 6, 2022© Reuters

Elche's back-to-back wins over Mallorca and Real Betis have moved them up into 14th position in the table, now eight points clear of the relegation zone, so they are in a brilliant position to stay in the league heading into the final straight.

Los Franjiverdes finished 17th in La Liga last term, while they have only ended a top-flight season in a position higher than 16th on one occasion since 1977, meaning that this could go down as a hugely successful campaign.

Francisco's side actually lost five of their six league matches between February 25 and April 10, which left them fearful of dropping into the relegation zone, but the two wins over Mallorca and Betis have been vital, and they kept clean sheets in both of those fixtures.

Elche will take on Cadiz, Atletico Madrid, Celta Vigo and Getafe in their final four league games of the season, and they are only actually four points behind 10th-placed Valencia, so it is certainly possible for them to finish in the top half with a strong end to the campaign.

Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate on March 13, 2022© Reuters

Osasuna, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's match off the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Real Madrid, but Los Rojillos have won three of their last five in the league, including their last away match at Valencia.

Jagoba Arrasate's side have collected 44 points from their 33 league matches this season to sit ninth in the table, two points ahead of 10th-placed Valencia and four behind eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Osasuna have finished 10th and 11th in their last two top-flight campaigns, and 10th represents their best season at this level since ending the 2011-12 season in seventh.

The Pamplona-based outfit actually have the sixth-best away record in La Liga this season, picking up 23 points from 16 matches, which is the same number of points that Elche have claimed on home soil.

Three of the last four league meetings between these two sides have finished all square, including a 1-1 draw in the reverse match earlier this term, while it was 2-2 in the corresponding game last season.

Elche La Liga form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W

Osasuna La Liga form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L



Team News

Real Madrid's Eden Hazard in action with Elche's Johan Mojica on January 22, 2022© Reuters

Elche will be missing Johan Mojica, Gonzalo Verdu and Lucas Boye this weekend through injury, but Omar Mascarell is back after serving a suspension.

Mojica and Verdu both picked up problems in the impressive win at Real Betis last time out, so there will have to be two changes at the back, with Antonio Barragan and Lucas Olaza both in line to start.

The home side could otherwise be unchanged from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Betis, though, with Kike Perez and Fidel supporting Ezequiel Ponce at centre-forward.

As for Osasuna, Juan Cruz and Jesus Areso will be unavailable for selection on Sunday due to muscular and wrist injuries respectively.

Lucas Torro is back from suspension, but head coach Arrasate could keep faith with the majority of the players that started the defeat to Real Madrid last weekend.

There might be a change out wide, with Manu Sanchez potentially coming in for Ruben Garcia, but Osasuna should again be in a 4-5-1 formation, with Ante Budimir featuring at the tip of the attack.

Elche possible starting lineup:
Badia; Palacios, Roco, Barragan, Gonzalez, Olaza; Perez, Guti, Gumbau, Fidel; Ponce

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Vidal, Aridane, D Garcia, Cote; Avila, Martinez, Moncayola, Brasanac, M Sanchez; Budimir


SM words green background

We say: Elche 1-1 Osasuna

Elche will be flying after back-to-back wins, but Osasuna are a team to be taken extremely seriously at this level, so we are finding it difficult to back them to lose here. Draws have been common between these two sides in recent meetings, and we are backing another stalemate on Sunday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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How you voted: Elche vs Osasuna

Elche
35.4%
Draw
41.5%
Osasuna
23.1%
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid35256473304381
2Barcelona35209665353069
3Sevilla351714451292265
4Atletico MadridAtletico35197960411964
5Real Betis351771157401758
6Real Sociedad35151193434056
7Villarreal3514111055342153
8Athletic Bilbao35131394134752
9Osasuna351210133646-1046
10Valencia351014114549-444
11Celta Vigo351110144138343
12Rayo Vallecano35119153539-442
13Espanyol351010153850-1240
14ElcheElche35109163748-1139
15Getafe35813143137-637
16CadizCadiz35714143347-1435
17Granada35713154359-1634
18Mallorca3588193262-3032
19Levante35611184467-2329
20AlavesAlaves3577212860-3228

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