Osasuna vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-03-03 20:00.
While a 1-1 draw away at Las Palmas in the last round may have made it three matches unbeaten for Osasuna (W2, D1), they were dealt a considerable blow as talismanic striker Ante Budimir was forced off with a head injury. With his return timetable unclear, boss Jagoba Arrasate will likely have been left pondering how to replace the man who’s scored almost half of his side’s La Liga goals this term (13 out of 30).
With or without Budimir, it seems the best Osasuna can hope to achieve from this campaign is a top-half finish. Victory against Alavés this weekend could move Los Rojillos into the top-ten if results elsewhere go their way, so they’ll be glad to be on home soil at El Sadar where they’ve lost just one of their last seven league matches (W4, D2).
They’re also unbeaten in each of the last eight top-flight H2Hs against Alavés (W7, D1), a record that’s unlikely to improve the visitors’ confidence which is already likely to be low amidst an ongoing four-match winless run (D3, L1). Alavés have at least avoided defeat in each of the last three, and would move to within a point of their hosts with victory here as they too chase a top-half finish on their return to the top-flight.
This is a fixture El Glorioso haven’t won since November 2016, though 2024 has injected some life into Alaves’ previously woeful form on the road. After failing to win any of their 24 La Liga road trips prior (D6, L18), Luis GarcĂa’s men are now unbeaten in four such matches (W2, D2), with both victories seeing them score exactly three times, while the draws came against top-seven opposition.
Players to watch: Each of Jesús Areso’s last three goal contributions have arrived on home soil, including an assist from the bench in their last outing here. On loan Alavés forward Samu Omorodion usually gets his team going, netting their first goal six times since arriving from Atlético Madrid.
Hot stat: Osasuna have earned a joint-league low three points from losing positions this term.