Osasuna 19/20 to beat Espanyol in Saturday’s La Liga opener

Competition: La Liga

Market: Osasuna win

Odds: 19/20 @ 888sport

Looking to open this year’s LA Liga campaign with a flurry on home soil, Osasuna will welcome Espanyol to the El Sadar on Saturday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Osasuna might have signed off their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 defeat away at former Premier League champions Liverpool on Monday night, Head Coach Jagoba Arrasate was right to praise his side’s displays this summer. Including a morale boost thanks to an eye-catching 3-1 win away at fellow La Liga outfit Real Sociedad on July 6th, Los Rojillos did manage to win six of their seven friendly contests. With the mood likely to be at a real high as they make a return to the El Sadar this weekend, the former Numancia boss also saw his side largely impress with their displays on home soil last season. Despite just missing out on a top-half finish last year, Osasuna did win three of their final four La Liga contests in Navarre, a run highlighted by victories against the likes of Valencia and Cadiz.

As for the visitors, while Espanyol might have managed to secure their immediate La Liga return last season, the top-flight returners failed to find much of a boost over the summer. Signing off their preparations with a penalties defeat away at Fiorentina last weekend, a 2-0 victory against Cadiz was the only win that Vicente Moreno’s men could muster from their five friendly attempts. Just about limping their way over the finish line last season after recording just a single win from their final five Segunda showdowns, it should also be noted that Periquitos hold a worrying record against Saturday’s hosts. Hit with a 2-0 defeat when they last faced off against Osasuna on Copa del Rey duties back in January, Espanyol have in fact lost each of their last three straight meetings against Los Rojillos.

Bet: Osasuna 19/20 to beat Espanyol in Saturday’s La Liga opener @ 888sport