Villarreal vs Osasuna Prediction: Expect goals in bottom half clash

Just two points separate Villarreal and Osasuna ahead of Sunday's meeting, in a congested bottom half of the La Liga table, with the home side struggling to replicate the form that saw them finish fifth last season.

Osasuna also ended the last campaign in seventh so both teams have had disappointing starts to the new term.

Team News

A big factor in Villarreal’s regression this season has been their injury issues, they currently have Aissa Mandi, Yeremy Pino, Matteo Gabbia, Alexander Sorloth, Denis Suarez and Francis Coquelin all absent from their side and in the treatment room.

Etienne Capoue, Juan Foyth, Alex Baena, Gerard Moreno and Filip Jorgensen were all rested in the Copa Del Rey recently and look likely to be recalled.

For Osasuna, Darko Brasanac remains out with a muscular issue, while Enrique Barja and Nacho Vidal are also absentees.

Match Odds

Villarreal can be backed at 23/20 for the victory, while Osasuna are 23/10 outsiders and the draw is available at 12/5.

Over 2.5 goals @ 5/6

Going into the international break only Granada had scored more goals in the bottom half of the table than Villarreal’s 18 and they can continue their high-scoring nature in this clash.

Their entertaining nature has particularly been on show at home, where six of their last seven games have gone over 2.5 goals.

The hosts will be looking to bounce back after losing two in a row in the league against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, they have suffered seven defeats in their 13 La Liga matches this term.

A midweek win against Zamora in the Copa Del Rey may well have boosted the confidence of the Yellow Submarine and they will be hoping to carry that form over into this league clash.

Osasuna have also lost seven league games this season, including two of their last three so both teams are scrapping about for form.

The visitors have been involved in a number of high-scoring affairs recently, with five of their last six away games seeing three or more goals.

It’s hard to fancy either of these teams for win purposes but over 2.5 goals looks a solid pick.

Gerard Moreno to score at anytime @ 6/4

In Moreno, Villarreal have a top class goalscorer and he is fancied to get on the scoresheet in this matchup. The forward has netted eight times in 11 league games and should be able to extend that tally against an Osasuna defence that has hardly been the tightest.