Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s match in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as these two Basque rivals meet in Pamplona.
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
Osasuna defend their proud unbeaten home run this Sunday with the visit of local rivals Athletic Club. While there is 100 miles separating the two cities and there are those who will claim Pamplona isn’t even in the Basque Country, there will be a special atmosphere at this match, as there normally is at El Sadar. Osasuna fans have had plenty to shout about over the past 18 months and they’ll fancy they can enjoy another afternoon to remember here.
It’s technically 31 league games at El Sadar since Osasuna were defeated in a run stretching back to a 1-0 loss to Tenerife in April 2018. The actual figure number of matches played is 30 with one of those games being an awarded victory over Reus following the Catalan club’s liquidation last term. It’s an incredibly impressive run and it was no surprise to see Osasuna tie down coach Jagoba Arrasate to a new contract this week that should see him remain in Pamplona until 2022.
Athletic Club have also been heavily reliant on their home results over the past eighteen months or so. They head into this game one point above their opponents having taken 7 points from their last 3 outings in La Liga. That represents a decent upturn in form after a slight slump which saw them go 5 without winning. You do have to go back 7 months for their last away win though with 4 of their 6 road games this term ending level.
The visitors are likely to show plenty of respect to Osasuna here and we rarely see anything too expansive from Gaizka Garitano’s side. Athletic’s away games this season average just 1.17 goals per game in total with Athletic having only mustered 2 away goals to date in 2019/20. Given Osasuna’s impressive home record, you sense they’d be more than content to leave here with a point too so this is unlikely to be the most open of football games, particularly with the visitors missing Iker Muniain, their most creative player.
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions
Score Prediction: 0-0 Draw
A tight, competitive game looks to be on the cards here. Athletic stifled Villarreal in their most recent road game to grind out a 0-0 draw. A repeat would be no great surprise unless somebody like Chimy Avila or Inaki Williams can produce a moment of magic.
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Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao H2H
- Last 6 competitive meetings: 5 Athletic Wins, 1 Draw.
- Athletic have won on their last 3 league visits to El Sadar.
- They’ve not lost to Osasuna in a competitive fixture since a 2-1 defeat on this ground in March 2012.
- The most recent meetings came in the 2016-17 season with Athletic taking 4 points including a 2-1 win here.
Predicted Line Ups
Osasuna Team:
Herrera – Estupinan, Navas, Garcia, Roncaglia – Garcia, Merida, Brasanac, Torres – Avila, Cardona (4-4-2)
Athletic Club Team:
Simon – Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Yuri – Lopez, Dani Garcia – Cordoba, Raul Garcia, Gomez – Williams (4-2-3-1)
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Elsewhere in La Liga this Sunday
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