Osasuna vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-11-07 20:30.
Osasuna continued their impressive campaign with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run (W3, D1) and marking their best 13-game start since 2005/06, a season they finished fourth. Boss Jagoba Arrasate was “ecstatic” after the result and despite stating that Barcelona “will be a tough match”, he’ll know victory here could see them spend the World Cup break in the Champions League spots.
Barça have been a bogey team for Osasuna though, dishing out some of their worst defeats, as well as remaining unbeaten at El Sadar since February 2012 (W3, D3). Yet Osasuna are no pushovers at home this season, having landed five league wins here (L2), although this is their first such game against a current top-eight opponent and a true test of their top-four credentials.
Barcelona are going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid in a thrilling title race and provisionally went to La Liga’s summit with a 2-0 win over Almeria on Sunday. In what was also Gerard Piqué’s farewell game at the Camp Nou, the Catalans took their 11th win from their last 12 league games (L1) and ominously for their hosts, Barcelona’s last ten wins have come ‘to-nil’. With such form, Barça have now equalled the lowest-ever goals conceded tally (four) at this stage of a top-flight campaign.
Those conceded goals have all come on the road though, albeit three were conceded at bitter rivals Madrid. With pressure starting to build as the title race heats up, manager Xavi Hernández may demand a faster start against Osasuna, as seven of Barcelona’s last eight away league goals have arrived in the second half, with four struck after the 80th minute.
Players to watch: Moi Gómez has directly contributed (G1, A1) to two of Osasuna’s last three goals and scored in his last appearance against Barcelona in a 2-0 win last season for Villarreal. Ferran Torres may look to spoil his plans however, having scored a first-half brace in a 4-0 Barça win when these sides last met.
Hot stat: Osasuna are yet to concede a match opener within the first 15 minutes of this league campaign.