Elche vs Osasuna Predictions & Match Preview

Elche vs Osasuna predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as the hosts target their first win of the season once more.

Elche vs Osasuna Preview

Elche’s wait for a first win of the season in LaLiga moves into an 18th game this weekend. Osasuna are the visitors to the Martinez Valero and will fancy their chances of leaving with all the points with Pablo Machin’s team continuing to struggle.

There was at least a 5th point of the campaign for Elche on Monday as Ezequiel Ponce headed home from close range in the latter stages of their bottom of the table showdown at Cadiz. In truth though, a draw only pushed them further towards the second tier with Elche already 12 points from safety heading into this weekend and it’s impossible to see how they can stay up from this position.

Any improvements under Pablo Machin have been limited in truth with no real sign that he is going to turn their fortunes around. Matches against Villarreal and Real Madrid follow this, so if there is going to be any kind of revival from Elche, it surely has to start here. They have added Lisandro Magallán and Jose Angel Carmona this month in a bid to ease their defensive woes but they need much more from their existing defenders who almost to a man have been very poor this season.

Osasuna will be targeting three points from this game as they bid to mount a European challenge. They’ve only managed to score one goal in the league since the World Cup but despite that they will be relatively content with their haul of 4 points from the last 3 games. Trips to Donostia and Bilbao were always going to be tough but they claimed a good draw at San Mames before edging past Mallorca at El Sadar last weekend.

There is also a real chance for Osasuna to progress into the last four of the Copa del Rey. They won a penalty shootout at the Benito Villamarin to knock out Betis in midweek and now face the other Seville club in the Quarter Finals. They will be favourites for that match which will be in Pamplona but won’t be looking past this game with a win here likely to move them into the top six.

Team News & Possible Lineups

Elche

Possible XI: Badia – Bigas, Roco, Palacios – Blanco, Gumbau, Mascarell, Carmona – Milla – Ponce, Boye (3-4-1-2)

Coach: Pablo Machin

Osasuna

Possible XI: Aitor Fernandez – Sanchez, Unai Garcia, David Garcia, Moreno – Brasanac, Moncayola – Abde, Oroz, Chimy – Budimir (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Jagoba Arrasate

Score Prediction: Elche 1-2 Osasuna

Elche already feel like a bit of a lost cause and while they aren’t getting hammered by teams, they invariably fall just short even when they are at home. Osasuna are a competitive side that has the greater options in terms of firepower and they should have enough to exploit Elche’s defensive issues and win the game.

PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.