Failing to score in their previous two league outings shows the root of their problems, but there is hope for getting back on the goal trail here, as not since November 2021 have Osasuna gone three or more league games without finding the back of the net.
Osasuna
Osasuna’s chase of the European spots in La Liga has taken a hit recently after their 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao last time out extended their winless league run to three matches. Failing to score in their previous two league outings shows the root of their problems, but there is hope for getting back on the goal trail here, as not since November 2021 have Osasuna gone three or more league games without finding the back of the net. With their last home game seeing them lose 2-1 to league-leaders Barcelona back in early November, the Little Reds will finally make a long-awaited return to the El Sadar Stadium, where they’ve picked up 15 of their 24 points this season. Osasuna’s games perhaps haven’t been pleasing for neutrals, though, with only five of their 16 league matches seeing more than two goals scored, the second-lowest tally in the competition.
Mallorca
The hosts have only been outdone in that regard by their visitors, Mallorca, who have seen a lowly three of their 16 La Liga matches produce over 2.5 goals. This hasn’t stopped Javier Aguirre’s men from ringing in the points recently, though, falling to just one defeat in their last six league outings, which now gives them a chance to leapfrog Osasuna in the table with a win here. The Pirates have actually made a habit of looting Osasuna for some points recently since they’ve lost only two of the last 15 top-flight H2Hs. That includes avoiding defeat at the El Sadar Stadium in each of their last six trips, their longest undefeated run away to a single opponent in their top-flight history, and they know extending that streak with a victory would boost their outside hopes of securing a European spot.
Osasuna will look to their game-changer Chimy Avila, who has scored the game-winning goal in each of his last four goalscoring outings. For Mallorca, Vedat Muriqi seems to have no issue hitting the road, scoring six of his previous eight club goals away from home. No team in Europe’s top-five leagues have received more yellow cards than Mallorca’s 62 this season!