Osasuna will be looking to move into the top four in La Liga when they welcome Valencia to Estadio El Sadar on Friday night.

The home side are currently sixth in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Real Betis, while Valencia occupy ninth position, having picked up 10 points from their opening seven games of the 2022-23 campaign.

Match preview

Osasuna have finished 10th, 11th and 10th in Spain's top flight since their return to this level, but they did claim a top-seven spot in 2011-12 and will have their eyes on a potential European position this term.

Los Rojillos have made a strong start to the 2022-23 campaign, boasting a record of four wins, one draw and two defeats from their six matches to collect 13 points, which has left them in sixth spot in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Real Betis and just three from Athletic Bilbao in third.

Osasuna have picked up seven points from their last four matches during a strong run and will enter this game off the back of a 1-1 draw with the champions Real Madrid last time out.

Los Blancos had won all nine of their matches in all competitions this season before the contest at Bernabeu, but Kike Garcia cancelled out an opener from Vinicius Junior to secure a share of the spoils for the visitors.

Jagoba Arrasate's side beat Valencia 2-1 when the two teams last locked horns in April, but the success came at Mestalla, and Los Che were 4-1 winners in the corresponding fixture last term.

Valencia, meanwhile, will also enter this match in strong form, having claimed seven points from their last four matches, which has helped them move up the table into ninth position.

Los Che were 3-0 winners over Celta Vigo in their last home league game before the international break, while they picked up a point away to Espanyol last weekend.

Gennaro Gattuso's side needed a 96th-minute leveller from Eray Comert to secure a share of the spoils against the Catalan outfit, with Joselu and Sergi Darder turning the game around for the hosts after Gabriel Paulista had made the breakthrough early in the second half.

Valencia do not have European football this season, but October is still a busy month for the club, with league games against Elche, Sevilla, Mallorca and Barcelona to follow this contest.

The six-time Spanish champions have finished ninth, 13th and ninth in La Liga since claiming fourth in 2018-19, and the club will have their eyes on another top-half spot this term.

Team News

Osasuna will be missing David Garcia due to the red card that he picked up against Real Madrid last time out, which could open the door for Manu Sanchez to come into the defence.

Kike Saverio remains a doubt due to a tendon issue, but Ezequiel Avila has now served his suspension and will be available for selection on Friday night.

Head coach Arrasate is expected to keep faith with the majority of the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Madrid, though, with Kike Garcia likely to lead the line in a 4-5-1 formation.

As for Valencia, Jaume Domenech remains a long-term absentee through injury, while Marcos Andre is suspended following his red card against Espanyol last time out.

Yunus Musah faces a late fitness test to determine his availability, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape, with the majority of those that started against Espanyol set to retain their spots.

Justin Kluivert could come into the front three alongside Edinson Cavani and Samuel Lino, though, with Samu Castillejo potentially dropping down to the bench.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Vidal, U Garcia, Sanchez, Cruz; Ezzalzouli, Brasanac, Torro, Moncayola, Gomez; Kike Garcia

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya; Almeida, Guillamon, Moriba; Kluivert, Cavani, Lino

We say: Osasuna 2-1 Valencia

This has all of the makings of a very interesting game, with both sides entering the fixture in strong form. Valencia are more than capable of picking up a positive result, but we are backing Osasuna to put another three points on the board to move into the Champions League spots.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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