Villarreal will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they continue their 2020-21 campaign away to basement side Osasuna on Saturday evening.
The Yellow Submarine are without a victory in the league since the beginning of November but still sit fourth in the table, while Osasuna are currently bottom of the pile, having picked up just 11 points from 12 games during a disappointing start.
Match preview
Osasuna impressed on their return to La Liga last season, claiming 10th position, but it has been a difficult start to the 2020-21 campaign for the Pamplona-based outfit.
A record of three wins, two draws and seven defeats from 12 matches has brought Jagoba Arrasate's side 11 points, and they are currently bottom of the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Los Rojillos are only two points from the safety of 17th position, though, and actually just four points behind 11th-placed Eibar with a game in hand, which is an indication of the congestion that exists in Spain's top flight.
Osasuna will enter this weekend's match off the back of a 6-0 win over Tomares in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night, which saw them book their spot in the second round of the competition.
Arrasate's side have lost each of their last three in the league, though, and have not collected all three points since overcoming Athletic Bilbao at the end of October.
Villarreal, meanwhile, also recorded a 6-0 victory in the Copa del Rey earlier this week, comfortably overcoming Leioa to advance to the second round of the competition.
The Yellow Submarine topped their Europa League group to advance to the knockout round of the competition, where they will face Red Bull Salzburg, and they have also impressed in the league this season.
Indeed, a record of five wins, seven draws and one loss from 13 matches has seen them collect 22 points, which is enough for fourth position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Unai Emery's side have shared the points in each of their last four league games, though, and are without a victory in La Liga since overcoming Getafe at the start of November.
Villarreal will certainly be looking to challenge for a top-four position this term, and the club will be eyeing back-to-back wins over Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao before a tough trip to Sevilla on December 29.
Osasuna La Liga form: LLDLLL
Osasuna form (all competitions): LDLLLW
Villarreal La Liga form: WWDDDD
Villarreal form (all competitions): DDWDDW
Team News
Osasuna will again be without the services of Chimy Avila, Jony and Lucas Torro this weekend, while Juan Perez remains a doubt for the clash with the Yellow Submarine.
Ante Budimir has been passed fit after a knock, though, and should start alongside Jonathan Calleri as part of a front two, meaning that Enric Gallego might have to accept a spot on the bench once again.
Roberto Torres and Ruben Garcia are again expected to feature in the wide areas, while Oier should get the nod over Inigo Perez in the middle of the park.
As for Villarreal, Alfonso Pedraza will miss out through suspension due to the booking that he picked up against Real Betis last time out, while Pervis Estupinan is struggling with a hamstring problem, meaning that there should be a start at left-back for Jaume Costa.
Carlos Bacca, Francis Coquelin, Alberto Moreno, Paco Alcacer and Vicente Iborra are also all unavailable through injury, while Moi Gomez faces a late fitness test.
On-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth played in midfield against Leioa and has emerged as an option to feature in that area this weekend, while Samuel Chukwueze and Takefusa Kubo are both in line for spots in the final third of the field alongside Gerard Moreno.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Vidal, D Garcia, Hernandez, Perez; Torres, Moncayola, Oier, R Garcia; Budimir, Calleri
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Costa; Parejo, Foyth, Trigueros; Chukwueze, G Moreno, Kubo
We say: Osasuna 1-2 Villarreal
Villarreal will be far from at full strength on Saturday, but it is difficult to back Osasuna due to their recent struggles. We are expecting a tight game between the two sides but believe that the Yellow Submarine will just have enough to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight.
