Bitesize Prediction: Osasuna vs Almeria – 04/01/24

Competition: La Liga

Market: Osasuna win

Odds: 8/11 @ 1xBet

Hoping to find some crucial La Liga stability in the New Year, Osasuna will welcome a struggling Almeria to El Sadar on Thursday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Osasuna might have stunned many across Spain last season as they secured a famous seventh-place finish, Los Rojillos have drastically failed to find a similar level this time around. Last seen heading into the festive interval with an action-packed 3-2 defeat at the hands of Mallorca, Jagoba Arrasate’s side almost find themselves sat in La Liga limbo. Opening up the New Year sat five points adrift of breaking into the top-half, Osasuna have recorded just a single win from any of their previous eight top-flight appearances. With that woeful extended blip stemming all the way back to October 20th, Thursday’s hosts will know the importance of claiming a crucial domestic boost here. Smelling a golden opportunity in midweek, Arrasate’s men will take plenty of solace from a stellar record against the leading relegation contenders. Landing a routine 3-1 win when they last welcomed Almeria to El Sadar back on May 13th, Osasuna have won each of their last three clashes on home soil by an aggregate score of 8-3.

As for the visitors, although Almeria might have eventually clung to their La Liga status last season, La Union are in the midst of an infamous top-flight nightmare. Sat rock-bottom of the table when opening the New Year, Gaizka Garitano’s men have remarkably collected just five points from any of their first 18 appearances. Rightfully coming under a huge amount of scrutiny and free-falling their way out of Spain’s elite, the former Eibar boss is already seeking a major miracle this year. Last seen heading into the fortnight interval with a 3-2 defeat against Barcelona, Thursday’s guests have gained a reputation for their extended issues on the road. In fact, crashing out of the Copa del Rey on December 6th following a shock 1-0 loss against lower-league Barbastro, Almeria have lost nine of their previous 10 showdowns away from the Power Horse Stadium. Likewise, hit with that 3-1 defeat when they last travelled to El Sadar back on May 13th, we are expecting a similar home victory here.

Bet: Osasuna 8/11 to beat Almeria in Thursday’s La Liga showdown @ 1xBet