| Odds via 22bet | |
| Osasuna vs FC Barcelona | September 28, 21:00 GMT+1 |
| Osasuna odds | 6.3 |
| FC Barcelona odds | 1.46 |
| Draw | 4.76 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.47/2.36 |
Vicente Moreno’s team is standing in 7th position after seven matchdays, exceeding expectations after the departure of head coach Jagoba Arrasate.
When Arrasate first coached Osasuna, the principal target of the season was to bring Osasuna back from the Segunda División to La Liga.
This dream became reality in the 2019/20 season, as his team achieved promotion and has remained in La Liga ever since. Osasuna didn’t merely survive on the highest level, as they regularly finished the season in midtable positions.
Arrasate’s move to Mallorca had left some uncertainty about the team’s future direction and stability. However, Moreno has stepped in effectively, managing a smooth transition and maintaining competitive performances that continue to exceed expectations.
This season, Osasuna has secured three victories: a narrow win against Mallorca, a thrilling 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo, and a solid 2-1 win against Las Palmas. Two teams defeated los Rojillos: Girona (4-0) and Rayo Vallecano (3-1). The team managed to draw against Leganés in the season opener and held Valencia to a goalless draw in their most recent match.
Vicente Moreno will have to do without Iker Muñoz (midfield) and Kike Barja (right-winger) due to injuries when Osasuna welcomes Barcelona in Pamplona.
| Recent Form | LWLWD |
| Key Player to Watch | Ante Budimir |
| Team Strengths | Accelerated transitions from the flanks, compact mid-block and great synergy between the players |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of world-class individual talent, lack of physically apt players |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Iker Muñoz, Kike Barja, Moncayola (doubtful) |
Barcelona finished the game against Getafe victorious (1-0), visibly exhausted but more than happy to win the three points. Unfortunately, the next match isn’t much easier, as they have to travel to Northern Spain.
El Sadar is known to be one of the toughest stadiums of the league, set up on high altitude. The link between the club and its fans is palpable: Pamplonians have never been prouder of their club.
Barcelona might be leading the league, but they need to avoid injuries at all costs. For example, Lamine Yamal wasn’t rested against Getafe – unlike Pedri. Most of the team will be thinking of the upcoming fixture against Young Boys in the Champions League.
The latest injury concerns Marc-André Ter Stegen, who is expected to be out for at least the rest of the season. Iñaki Peña is the current serving goalkeeper, but it seems the club does not fully trust him.
Strong rumours surfaced on the internet in the last 48 hours, suggesting that the club and the recently retired Wojciech Szczęsny are looking to strike a deal.
Another question Hansi Flick will need to answer over the coming days is the role of Ansu Fati. The young superstar has been available since last week, but he has not featured despite the German coach expressing his trust in the weeks preceding his comeback.
| Recent Form | WWLWW |
| Key Player to Watch | Lamine Yamal |
| Team Strengths | Individual talents, mix of profiles, build-up from the back, strong high-line |
| Team Weaknesses | Highlight with tendencies of going too high, a striker that lacks movement, lack of an established pivot |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Marc Bernal, Christensen, Dani Olmo, De Jong, Ronald Araújo, Fermín López and Gavi |
Historically, this encounter lies in the hands of Barcelona. In thirty-seven encounters, the Catalans carry 26 victories to their name in 37 matches, while Osasuna only won on four occasions.
The last match saw a 2-1 victory in favour of Barcelona despite Chimy Ávila opening the score in the 76th minute, but goals from Lewandowski and Jules Koundé brought the three points back home for Barcelona.
Osasuna’s last victory was in 2020 when the Pamplonians won 2-1, a defeat which allowed Real Madrid to win La Liga.
Bet hereIt’s impossible to mention a single Player Focus section concerning Barcelona without dedicating several paragraphs to Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old continues to impress the crowds game after game, as he dribbles past any defender with ease. Yamal also puts in a defensive shift if the team needs him to.
It’s increasingly hard to not think of Lionel Messi when one watches Lamine Yamal. Much like his idol, Barcelona’s new superstar rarely stays glued to the right wing, preferring to roam in the centre as seen in the game against Getafe.
Whatever ball rolls under his feet will witness a moment of magic as he continues to split the opponent.
If one man needs to be mentioned from Osasuna, it’s none other than Ante Budimir. The striker acts as the main reference upfront and should be carefully man-marked by Barcelona’s defenders.
Osasuna’s intensity in transitions is something Hansi Flick will need to take into account when preparing for the match.
Most of Osasuna’s team has good endurance, which means that Barcelona cannot be careless at the back with a highline that often stands too high against counter-attacks.
Pau Cubarsí might be great in possession, but he may be outpaced by the offensive midfielders of Osasuna.
Barcelona is expected to keep a large share of the possession, but it will need to find a way through Osasuna’s defensive block. Against Getafe, Hansi Flick deployed his midfielders to run in the box, as he looked to increase the number of players in Getafe’s penalty box. This is a pattern he should also be looking to use to divide Osasuna’s block, combined with Lamine Yamal’s 1v1 expertise.
Despite Osasuna hosting Barcelona means that El Sadar slightly favours Osasuna, there is no doubt that Barcelona remains the favourite.
In La Liga, nobody has found the antidote to Hansi Flick’s machine, as the culés remain on the top of the league after seven match weeks. Osasuna’s playstyle is intense, but it only has one major goal threat: Ante Budimir.
If Barcelona can shut him down, it’s game over for the locals. No club in La Liga has stopped Lamine Yamal from dribbling past his opponent 1v1, which is also expected to be the case during this match.
If Osasuna wants to maximise its chances, Vicente Moreno needs to find a way to minimize Lamine Yamal’s impact while also exploiting Barcelona’s highline.
While it is true that Barcelona dominates this clash, fixtures at El Sadar have never been peaceful matches and Barcelona tends to concede at least one goal. It would be surprising to see this match evolving differently.
Expectations are therefore that both teams will score, as Barcelona will push for victory, but they will need to suffer to win.
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