Yellow Submarine in Choppy Waters as Struggling Villarreal Head to Osasuna
Villarreal look to end their four-game losing streak against an in-form Osasuna side riding high after back-to-back victories in La Liga.
Marcelino’s men find themselves in a proper pickle as they travel to El Sadar, desperately seeking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat against an Osasuna side currently flying high on confidence.
Yellow Submarine Taking on Water
Villarreal are going through their worst patch of the season, having lost four on the bounce - a dismal run they haven’t experienced in three seasons. The most recent disappointment came in Europe, and now they’re in danger of watching their previously solid campaign go down the swanny if they can’t stop the rot.
Marcelino is expected to shuffle his pack after their European exertions in Leverkusen, with several key players set to return:
- Gerard Moreno likely to lead the line
- Moleiro should return to the starting XI
- Pedraza expected to reclaim his spot
New signing Freeman has traveled with the squad to Pamplona, but his transfer paperwork isn’t sorted yet, leaving his participation in doubt.
Osasuna Riding High
The Pamplona outfit couldn’t be in more contrasting form. They’re absolutely buzzing after:
- Securing their first away win of the season
- Looking for a third consecutive victory
Alessio Lisci has named a 23-man squad that includes Raúl Moro, who could make his debut for the rojillos. However, Aimar Oroz remains doubtful after picking up a knock from a heavy challenge in their previous match.
Battle of the Marksmen
The clash features an intriguing shootout between two of La Liga’s sharpshooters. Osasuna’s Ante Budimir has been in fine fettle with nine league goals this season and has found the net in his last two outings.
On the visitors’ side, Georgian striker Mikautadze has five goals to his name but is currently experiencing a mini-drought, having failed to score in his last two appearances.
Villarreal will be hoping to recapture the reliability that saw them defeat all non-European participants during the first half of the season, but they’ll need to be at their best against an Osasuna side currently playing some of their best football of the campaign.