The Round 18 La Liga match between Osasuna and Athletic will take place on January 3 at the El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona. Osasuna vs Athletic: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Osasuna
The side are gradually correcting their league position. After a six-match winless run in La Liga, the Pamplona outfit have regrouped and recorded two wins in their last three fixtures. Before the break Osasuna saw off Alavés 3-0 at El Sadar, marking the club’s first La Liga rout since May 2024. As a result, Alessio Lisci’s men have climbed to 12th place, although the bottom half of the table remains tight and their cushion above the relegation zone is only three points.
- Osasuna's uncompromising home run in La Liga stands at five matches (3 wins, 2 defeats).
- At least two goals have been scored in five consecutive La Liga matches involving the club.
- The team has played 29 matches at home in this competition.
Probable Osasuna lineup (4-2-3-1)
Sergio Herrera – Valentin Rosier, Alejandro Catena, Jorge Herrando, Abel Bretones – Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torro – Victor Muñoz, Aimar Oroz, Rubén García – Ante Budimir.
First-choice defender Abel Bretones is suspended. Another defensive player, Enzo Boyomo, has departed to join his national team for the Africa Cup of Nations. Midfielder Iker Benito is unavailable through injury.
Athletic
In La Liga the club had been alternating wins and defeats for more than a month, but that pattern was broken in the last round when Athletic, who were heavy favourites, lost 2-1 at home to Espanyol. The Basques thus failed to pick up points in consecutive La Liga matches. Ernesto Valverde’s men have slipped to eighth in the table, having played one game more than some rivals, and their gap to the European places has increased from two to five points.
- At least two goals were scored in five of the club’s last six La Liga matches.
- The Basques have produced an uncompromising run of nine matches in this competition (3 wins, 6 defeats).
- Athletic have conceded in six of their last eight away league fixtures.
Probable Athletic lineup (4-2-3-1)
Unai Simón – Andoni Gorosabel, Íñigo Lekue, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro – Mikel Hauregizar, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Alex Berenguer – Iñaki Williams.
First-choice defender Dani Vivian has completed a suspension. The team will be missing defenders Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte and Unai Ehilus through injury, midfielders Beñat Prados and Robert Navarro are sidelined, as is forward Maroan Sannadi.
Match prediction: Osasuna vs Athletic
Osasuna have come through a difficult autumn and have improved in the past month, losing only one of their last four La Liga matches, that defeat coming at Barcelona (0-2). Home games suit them much better this season: Osasuna have taken 18 points so far in La Liga, 16 of which have been earned at El Sadar. The team are unbeaten in 10 of their last 12 home league matches, with nine of those 12 ending in victory.
Athletic remain out of form, registering just three wins and six defeats in the last ten La Liga rounds. On the road in that period the club beat only struggling Levante (2-0); aside from that game they have collected just one point from their previous seven away league fixtures, a 0-0 draw with Elche.
With the hosts looking the more convincing side, my prediction: Osasuna to win or draw
* For each team the starting XI shown is from their previous match in this competition.
