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Valencia vs Osasuna predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as Los Che play another key home game in their fight for survival.
| Date | Saturday 11th March 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | Mestalla |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Valencia vs Osasuna Preview
Valencia are back at Mestalla on Saturday evening for the latest chapter in their battle for survival. Ruben Baraja managed to guide his side to 3 points in his first home game against Real Sociedad but he’ll be expecting another tough test here.
It is only 3 points from 3 games overall for Valencia so far under Baraja so it has not been a wildly successful honeymoon period and they didn’t offer much in defeat away to 10-man Barcelona last weekend. However the home environment is going to be so important. Baraja’s presence as a club legend should at least ensure the fans are on board and if the team and supporters can build a connection over the final few months, home results could be enough to guide Valencia to safety.
That wouldn’t cure the extensive problems that exist beneath the surface at Valencia but they have a long way to go before achieving that aim. It’s 6 defeats from 7 games overall for Los Che and they are currently bottom of the form table with 4 points from their last 8. They can at least welcome the influential Jose Gaya back into the fold here.
Osasuna are always an awkward team to play against when you need a win as Jagoba Arrasate usually sets his team up to be compact and tough to break down. They are strong defensively with David Garcia still doing a good job of marshalling the defence while they have two solid options in goal with Aitor Fernandez currently slightly ahead of Sergio Herrera in the pecking order.
Their league form has been mixed which does tend to be the way of things for the Pamplona side. Their last 8 games have produced 4 draws, 2 wins and 2 defeats, although their excellent Copa del Rey run has been something of a positive distraction. There are still a few weeks before the 2nd Leg of their Semi-Final with Athletic though so their cup run should have no bearing on this game.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Valencia
| INJURED | Domenech, Lato, Andre, Gabriel Paulista |
| DOUBTFUL | Cavani |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Diakhaby, Comert, Correia – Almeida, Guillamon, Musah – Lino, Duro, Castillejo (4-3-3)
Coach: Ruben Baraja
Osasuna
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | Ruben Pena, Ruben Garcia |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Aitor – Cruz, Aridane, David Garcia, Moncayola – Moi Gomez, Torro, Oroz – Abde, Budimir, Chimy (4-3-3)
Coach: Jagoba Arrasate
Score Prediction: Valencia 0-0 Osasuna
This is likely to be tight with neither side offering much of a goal threat. Osasuna have failed to score in 4 of their last 6 games while Valencia have only netted twice in 7 league outings. Much may depend on how many risks the two coaches are willing to take in pursuit of victory but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the spoils were shared.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
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