Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Osasuna have a good chance to climb into the European competition spots. They are unbeaten in their last five matches, including the Copa del Rey, and they display confident performances at home. For Athletic Bilbao, this encounter is an opportunity to edge closer to the top three and solidify their position in the Champions League zone. Both teams have been quite successful this season, and the match could be rich in goals.
Osasuna
Osasuna are on a streak of four consecutive draws. However, their home record is impressive, with only one loss in nine matches. They have scored in every La Liga game at their home ground, thanks to strong attacking numbers: Osasuna score significantly more at home than away (1.89 compared to 0.63). That said, they do concede quite a bit—having allowed goals in eight out of nine games.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are on a nine-match unbeaten run in La Liga. They are renowned for their attack, averaging 1.5 goals per game. The team have scored consistently in their last seven matches. However, their defence has been shaky, especially in recent away games—with only two clean sheets in eight. Unai Simón has returned to goalkeeping duties after more than four months without play. Despite this, Athletic Bilbao conceded against Alavés, an underdog, in their previous match, despite allowing just three shots on target.
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction
Osasuna play confidently at home and regularly find the net, but their weak defence gives chances to Athletic Bilbao, who are in good form. Given the teams' statistics and the trend towards high-scoring matches, the most likely scenario is both teams scoring.
