La Liga: Valencia Out to End Away Woes at Osasuna

Osasuna vs Valencia

Matchday 8 of La Liga kicks off with an intriguing matchup between Osasuna and Valencia at the El Sadar Stadium.

Osasuna are currently in sixth in the standings with 13 points and are coming off a draw with Real Madrid, ending the champions’ perfect start to the season.

They will now look to pick up more points against Valencia, who are three points behind in ninth and have yet to claim a victory away from home this season.

Talking Points

Osasuna off to a strong start

Osasuna have been the picture of consistency under coach Jagoba Arrasate. Arrasate arrived in 2018 and led Los Rojillos to La Liga promotion in his first season in charge. Since then, he has guided them to comfortable mid-table La Liga finishes in each of the last three seasons (10th, 11th, 10th).

This season, though, Osasuna are off to a surprisingly strong start. They currently sit in sixth in the La Liga standings with four wins from their first seven games. Their 13 points are the most at this stage of the season in the top flight since 2005/06, when they finished in fourth.

Moreover, they are coming off one of the most surprising La Liga 2022 results to date: a 1-1 draw from their trip to Madrid, which ended reigning champions Real’s perfect start to the season.

Osasuna successfully held the champions despite being down to 10 men for the last 12 minutes after centre-back David Garcia was sent off. Garcia will miss the Valencia match due to suspension.

However, they will get back leading scorer Chimy Avila (3 goals), who is served out his suspension for his red card in their previous match against Getafe.

Kike Garcia made his first start of the season against Real in place of Croatian centre-forward Ante Budimir, and he could get the call to start again after he scored Osasuna’s equalising goal.

Valencia still searching for first away victory

Valencia are off to an underwhelming start under new coach Gennaro Gattuso. Los Che are down in ninth in the table with three wins and three defeats from their first seven games.

It has been a tale of two Valencia teams thus far: one that does well at home and one that struggles on the road. All three of their wins have come at the Mestalla, where they’ve scored 9 of their 12 goals. Meanwhile, they are still winless in three away matches, with two losses and a draw as well as only three goals scored.

They were actually mere seconds from losing three of three on the road, but substitute defender Eray Comert equalised late in stoppage time as Valencia salvaged a 2-2 draw with Espanyol last time out.

Comert and fellow centre-back Gabriel Paulista got the goals for Valencia, who are still waiting to get consistent production from their forwards. Samu Castillejo is the team’s top scorer with just two goals. Meanwhile, fellow newcomer, former PSG and Man United striker Edinson Cavani, has not found the net in his first two games for Los Che.

To make matters worse for Gattuso, forward Marcos Andre will be suspended after his red card against Espanyol, which means he will be down to Cavani and Hugo Duro as his only two striker options against Osasuna.

History

Valencia have had the edge over Osasuna over the years. Los Che have an 11-5 advantage in terms of wins, with five draws.

However, Osasuna have won two of the last three matches against Valencia, which is as many wins as in their previous 15 meetings.

The away side win both fixtures between the two sides last season. Valencia crushed Osasuna 4-1 at the El Sadar, but Osasuna hit back with a 2-1 win at the Mestalla.

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds for this match are quite close. Osasuna are narrow 2.26 favourites to beat Valencia, who are priced at 3.10. A draw is 3.25.

Osasuna are without a win in their last two La Liga games – they lost 2-0 at home prior to their draw with Real Madrid – but they are a good bet to end that drought against Valencia.

Having home advantage will be huge, especially with Valencia’s lack of form away from home. And with top scorer Chimy Avila back, I expect Osasuna to edge out what is likely to be a tight, defensive match.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.