On Saturday, September 28, Osasuna will host Barcelona at the Estadio El Sadar in Pamplona, Spain, in a highly anticipated La Liga match. The kickoff time is set at 21:00 CET, which translates to 20:00 GMT for UK and Ireland viewers, and 3:00 PM ET for those in the United States.
Current Form and League Standing
Barcelona, under the management of Hansi Flick, has had a stellar start to the La Liga season, winning all seven of their matches so far and sitting comfortably at the top of the table with 21 points. This perfect start has them four points clear of Real Madrid, and a win against Osasuna could further solidify their lead.
Osasuna, managed by Vicente Moreno, has also had a solid start to the season, currently sitting in seventh place with 11 points from seven games. They have been particularly strong at home, gathering 10 points from a possible 12 in their home fixtures.
Team News and Injuries
Osasuna will be without long-term absentees Iker Munoz and Kike Barja due to injuries. However, Vicente Moreno is expected to make some changes to his squad, potentially bringing in Ante Budimir and Bryan Zaragoza to boost their attack. Jon Moncayola and Kike Barja are also doubtful for the match.
Barcelona is dealing with several key injuries, including goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who suffered a season-ending injury, and other players like Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen, Gavi, and Marc Bernal. Despite these absences, Inaki Pena will get his second league start, and Pedri is expected to return to the starting lineup.
Predicted Lineups
For Osasuna, the predicted lineup is:
- Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Herrando, Bretones; Moncayola, Torro, M Gomez; Zaragoza, Budimir, Oroz.
For Barcelona, the predicted lineup is:
- Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; E. Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Torre, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
How to Watch
Fans can watch the match through various streaming and TV channels. In the United States, the match will be available on ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, and Fubo. For viewers in the UK and Ireland, the game can be seen on Premier Sports and Amazon Prime Video.
Predictions and Odds
Barcelona is favored to win, given their current form and historical dominance over Osasuna. The Catalans have won all of their last five La Liga meetings against Osasuna and are looking to extend this streak. The odds reflect this, with Barcelona at -225, Osasuna at +550, and a draw at +360.
Predictions suggest that Barcelona will emerge victorious, possibly with a scoreline of 2-1 or 3-1, given their prolific goal-scoring form this season. Robert Lewandowski, who has been crucial for Barcelona with seven goals so far, is expected to play a key role in the match.
Conclusion
The match between Osasuna and Barcelona promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to continue their strong starts to the season. Despite the injuries plaguing Barcelona, their depth and current form make them strong favorites. However, Osasuna's home form and determination to challenge the league leaders could make for a compelling contest.
