La Liga | Gameweek 22

Feb 2, 2025 at 5.30pm UK

Estadio El Sadar

Osasuna vs Real Sociedad

Match preview

Osasuna haven't won a game in La Liga since 1-1 against Las Palmas on 24 January. In fact, they've only shared points six times in their last eight league games.

Vicente Moreno's team haven't won in Spain's top division since the start of November, but they've had a pretty solid campaign so far, and they're currently in 11th place in the table with 27 points from 21 matches.

Osasuna are only one point behind ninth-placed Real Sociedad and just three from Mallorca in sixth, with a fascinating battle developing for the European spots, and a lot could change in the table in a short space of time.

Los Rojillos have been doing really well on their home turf this season, racking up 19 points from 11 matches. That's actually the fifth-best home record in the division, while Real Sociedad have 14 points from their 10 away games.

Osasuna have won their last two league games against Real Sociedad, including a 2-0 success in the reverse match earlier this season, but it was 1-1 when the two sides met last season.

Real Sociedad will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League, with the result seeing them finish 13th in the overall table. They'll need to win a playoff to be present in the next round.

Imanol Alguacil's team are also in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, with Osasuna as their opponents next week, so this is the first of two quick-fire matches between the two sides.

Real Sociedad's league form is a bit worrying, though. They've only won one of their last five matches in Spain's top flight, and they've been beaten in three of their last four, including their last two against Valencia and Getafe.

La Real have won eight, drawn four and lost nine of their 21 league matches this season, collecting 28 points. This has left them in ninth place, but a top-six finish is still very much achievable this term.

They've only scored 17 goals, which is the second-worst record in the division, with only Real Valladolid (14) scoring fewer.

Recent Performance

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Osasuna form (all competitions):LWLWDD

Real Sociedad La Liga form:WDLWLL

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):WWLLLW

Team News

Osasuna will have to check on Moi Gomez, who's been struggling with an illness, while Bryan Zaragoza remains unavailable for selection due to a foot injury.But the winger, who is on loan from Bayern, is back in training.

The home side are otherwise in strong shape, and there are not expected to be any real surprises when it comes to their first XI for this match, with Ante Budimir set to continue in the final third of the field.

Kike Barja and Ruben Garcia are likely to operate in the wide positions for Osasuna, while Aimar Oroz is expected to keep his spot in midfield, having scored from that position against Las Palmas last time out.

As for Real Sociedad, Hamari Traoré is still out with a bad knee injury, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape and there are no fresh issues following their Europa League game with PAOK.

Orri Oskarsson scored twice in the last European game and is expected to keep his spot in the middle, but Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to return to the XI.

Alex Remiro will be back between the sticks for the Basque outfit, and Jon Aramburu and Igor Zubeldia are also set to be recalled for the league fixture with Osasuna.

Possible starting lineup

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Ruben Garcia, Moncayola, Munoz, Oroz, Barja; Budimir

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Gomez; Kubo, Zubimendi, Marin, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal, Oskarsson