Osasuna vs Elche match preview and predictions for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as two bottom half teams meet at El Sadar.
| Date | Sunday 18th April 2021 |
| Kick-Off | 14:00 (local time) |
| Stadium | El Sadar |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Osasuna vs Elche Preview
Every game from here on in is vitally important for Elche as they bid to defy the odds and stay in LaLiga. Osasuna are not completely safe themselves but with an 8 point cushion on Sunday’s opponents who are currently 18th, the Pamplona side could certainly start planning for another top flight campaign with victory here.
Osasuna’s recent form has been pretty good and only four teams can better their return of 12 points from the last 8 games. A surprise 2-1 away victory against an admittedly much rotated Villarreal side, pushed them further clear of trouble and also ended a sequence of three straight goalless draws. Goals from Jon Moncayola and Ante Budimir sealed all the points at the Ceramica.
Budimir’s 7 goals have been important with no other Osasuna player having managed more than 4 this season. The bad news for the side from El Sadar is that Budimir’s parent club Mallorca look on course for promotion back to LaLiga so it seems doubtful they will be willing to let Budimir return to Osasuna in 2021/22. The good news though is that Chimy Avila has been fit enough to make the bench in recent weeks and could see some game time here.
As for Elche, they are still fighting for their lives but a 3-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Huesca last time out was a significant blow to their survival prospects. It’s just 2 points from 5 games since that shock 2-1 win over Sevilla and they’ve only won two league games this season since their fifth match, both of which have come since Fran Escriba took over earlier this year.
They are further hampered here by the suspension of Fidel. He has been one of their few attacking players who have offered a genuine threat this season and his tally of seven goal involvements is more than any other player.
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Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Osasuna Win, 1 Elche Win, 4 Draws.
- The sides drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture earlier this term.
- Elche haven’t won on any of their three visits to El Sadar this century.
- Elche’s last win over Osasuna came via a 2-1 margin in November 2015.
Team News
Juan Cruz is definitely out again for Osasuna while Inigo Perez is rated doubtful.
Guido Carrillo is injured while Fidel serves a ban for Elche.
Predicted Osasuna Starting Lineup:
Herrera – Sanchez, Aridane, David Garcia, Vidal – Ruben Garcia, Moncayola, Brasanac, Barja – Budimir, Calleri (4-4-2)
Predicted Elche Starting Lineup:
Badia – Mojica, Calvo, Verdu, Palacios – Morente, Marcone, Guti, Josan – Boye, Milla (4-4-2)
Osasuna vs Elche Predictions
Score Prediction: Osasuna 0-0 Elche
Osasuna’s last two home games have seen them host struggling teams and have descended into uneventful 0-0 draws. Truth be told, a repeat looks entirely possible here. While Osasuna are the side with a bit more quality, they’d probably be happy enough to take a point and maintain that eight point advantage on the bottom three which will be very tough for a team like Elche to overhaul.
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