Girona vs Osasuna prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-08-28 17:00.
[p]After reaching and then finishing in the heady heights of third last season, the start of this campaign has been much less promising for La Liga upstarts Girona, who are yet to win in league action after two rounds (D1, L1). Adjusting to life after 2023/24 La Liga top-scorer Artem Dovbyk was never going to be easy, although fans may be optimistic of getting off the mark here against one of the nine sides they beat both home and away last time around. Â [/p]
[p]One considerable mitigating factor to Girona’s poor start is the fact that they’ve begun with back-to-back away games, so a return home to the venue where they’re unbeaten in 17 of their last 19 league games (W15, D2, L2) will be welcomed. In fact, Girona have never lost the opening home game of a top-flight campaign (W2, D2), with their solid home H2H record across Osasuna’s last six visits (W3, D2, L1) providing further fuel for MĂchel’s Girona side. [/p]
[p]In contrast, Osasuna have begun their season with two home league games and remain unbeaten at this early stage under new manager Vicente Moreno (W1, D1). Appointed in the summer, Moreno may be quietly confident of extending his positive start after going unbeaten in his opening three games in four of his last five managerial posts, although that comes under threat as he’s winless across his last four personal meetings with Girona (D1, L3).  [/p]
[p]Taking to the road brings its own challenges, but Osasuna travel here having won their opening away league game in four of their last five La Liga campaigns (L1). Alas, building on that record here will be no mean feat as the visitors travel to Catalonia without a win in any of their last eight visits to clubs based in the region whilst failing to get on the scoresheet in five of those matches (D3, L5).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Girona’s Portu scored first in this fixture last season, which contributed to six of his seven league goals in 2023/24 coming on home soil. As for Osasuna, RubĂ©n GarcĂa scored the sole goal in their only win this season, meaning that four of his last five strikes were team openers. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: There have been goals in both halves in five of Girona’s last six home league games.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]