Osasuna vs Almeria prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-01-03 16:00.
Osasuna ended 2023 on a sour note, after winning just one of their last eight La Liga (LL) matches (D3, L4) which culminated in a 3-2 loss to Mallorca despite having taken an early lead. One positive to take into the new year will be their goal scoring trend, as Jagoba Arrasate’s men have managed to score in their previous nine LL matches, last achieving such a feat with another nine-game run back in February-April 2004.
Los Rojillos will undoubtedly be keen to surpass that scoring run and get 2024 off to a winning start, something they’ve failed to do in each of their four opening games to a new year (D3, L1). A tie with basement dwelling AlmerĂa may just grant the Estadio El Sadar faithful their new year’s wish, since Osasuna have beaten their visitors in each of the last six league H2Hs.
Another blow to AlmerĂa will be just another nail in what already seems a shut coffin, after a 13th LL loss of the season in their last match, although they showed plenty of fighting spirit to equalise twice before losing 3-2 to Barcelona. Gaizka Garitano’s men are left stranded on just five points at the bottom of the LL table with a winless record (D5, L13), making them the only side yet to record a top-flight victory across Europe’s traditional top-five leagues this season.
Their failings started at the back end of last season, which means their winless run currently stands at 21 LL matches (D7, L14), their longest streak without victory in their top-flight history. Starting the new year by bucking this trend doesn’t seem likely either, especially since they’ve opened the last two calendar years with losses without scoring.
Players to watch: Ante Budimir, Osasuna’s top-scorer this season, has netted 11 of his last 15 goals at home, a run that includes scoring in this fixture last season. As for AlmerĂa, they’ll be hoping for LĂ©o BaptistĂŁo to keep doing what he’s doing, since his four goals this season have all come away from home.
Hot stat: Prior to the round, no team had conceded more LL goals after the 75th minute than AlmerĂa’s 11 this season.