Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
On Saturday, May 24, in the final round of La Liga, Alavés will host Osasuna on their home turf. Kick-off is set for 21:00 Central European Time. Here’s our match preview and prediction.
Alavés vs Osasuna: facts and head-to-head
- Alavés have won their last two matches and are unbeaten at home in three consecutive rounds.
- Osasuna have lost only two of their last ten games, securing five wins in that span.
- Osasuna have found the net in eight straight matches.
- Alavés have failed to score in 30% of their matches, while Osasuna have drawn a blank in just 14%.
- Osasuna have surpassed the 1.5 individual total in 78% of their games; Alavés have done so in 59%.
- Alavés have the fifth-worst attack in La Liga: only 37 goals scored.
- The first meeting this season ended in a high-scoring 2-2 draw. In the last five head-to-head clashes, both teams have claimed two wins and drawn once.
Alavés vs Osasuna: match preview
Alavés finished the season strongly, stringing together back-to-back wins to secure their La Liga status with time to spare. With 41 points from 37 rounds—four more than the relegation zone—Vitoria’s side can afford to end the season on a high and give their home fans something to cheer about.
Osasuna, on the other hand, are locked in a fierce battle for European qualification. They’ve picked up 51 points, trailing eighth place only on tiebreakers. With the possibility of additional European slots for Spanish teams, Osasuna’s chances remain alive and well. The team have won their last two fixtures by identical 2-0 scores, are unbeaten in three, and look focused and highly motivated.
Probable lineups
- Alavés: Sivera; Tenaglia, Garcés, Murillo, Sánchez; Blanco, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Aleñá; Kike
- Osasuna: Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Torró, Ibañez; R. García, Oroz, Zaragoza; Budimir
Prediction
This is a must-win match for Osasuna. With a European spot on the line, they will be fighting tooth and nail. Alavés have no stakes left in the standings, but will want to put on a show for their fans. Still, Osasuna’s motivation and form look more convincing, so I’m backing the visitors to win at odds of 2.3.
