Valencia vs Osasuna match preview and predictions for Thursday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Osasuna travel to the Mestalla.
- DATE: Thursday 21st January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 19:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Mestalla
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Valencia vs Osasuna Preview
Thursday’s action in LaLiga kicks off at Mestalla with an important game at the bottom end of the table. Valencia can take a big step clear of the relegation scrap with victory against an Osasuna side that is desperately in need of three points and a bit of optimism heading into 2021.
Valencia do at least come into this game on the back of three straight wins in all competitions. While two of those victories were in the Copa del Rey against lower league opponents, their hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Valladolid in their most recent LaLiga match was a significant result.
Carlos Soler’s goal was the difference and it’s vital that Valencia’s unpopular owners don’t decide to cash in on his talents this month, as had been rumoured in some quarters. From a symbolic point of view as much as anything, it would be perhaps the biggest blow yet for Valencia fans given Soler’s status as a homegrown talent and a beacon of hope for the future. On a more practical level, he is already arguably the most important player in this current team with more goals and more assists than any other Valencia player this term.
What Osasuna would give for a goalscoring midfielder or even a goalscoring forward to help boost their survival bid. The sight of Chimy Avila doing light training again is a positive but his return to full first team action could still be months away, and Osasuna need solutions quickly otherwise they are in real danger of slipping into the Segunda Division.
Their return of just 4 points and no wins from their last 8 league games is the joint worst record in LaLiga with a 2-0 defeat at Granada their most recent league outing. They were victors in the Copa del Rey at the weekend, away to a strong Espanyol side but it’s league points they really need with only Huesca below them in the table.
Latest LaLiga Match Previews | Latest January Transfers
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Valencia Wins, 1 Osasuna Win, 2 Draws.
- Valencia have won all of the last 6 meetings at Mestalla.
- There have been 17 goals in the last 4 meetings between the clubs.
- Both meetings last season ended in home wins.
Team News
Valencia have doubts over the fitness of Gabriel Paulista and Kevin Gameiro.
David Garcia is banned for Osasuna while fellow centre-back Aridane Hernández is a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Predicted Valencia Starting Lineup:
Domenech – Gaya, Diakhaby, Guillamon, Correia – Cheryshev, Racic, Soler, Wass – Kang-In, Gomez (4-4-2)
Predicted Osasuna Starting Lineup:
Herrera – Cruz, U. Garcia, Navas, Vidal – Moncayola, Sanjurjo, Perez – Torres, Calleri, R. Garcia (4-3-3)
Valencia vs Osasuna Predictions
Score Prediction: Valencia 1-1 Osasuna
Valencia’s record of having won just once at Mestalla since the opening day of the season, immediately casts doubt on their ability to turn their position as favourites into three points here. Osasuna have been competitive in all their recent games, holding the likes of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to draws, but they are simply not winning football matches in the league, and that’s unlikely to change here.
Valencia vs Osasuna Betting Tips (18+)
Get our betting picks for this fixture, as well as all the others in LaLiga this week by following LaLiga Expert for free on Tipstrr.
Note that we don’t guarantee any profits if you’re backing our La Liga tips and predictions. If you do choose to bet, only stake what you can afford to lose. See BeGambleAware for more on responsible gambling.
