Key Facts
- Osasuna is just one point behind Sevilla and level on points with Alavés with 19 points; a home win would provide immediate relief in the tight basement battle.
- Oviedo travels in last place with 13 points, just one behind Levante; five league games without a win, with four draws and a goal difference of -19, are increasing the pressure.
- Oviedo will be without winger Ovie Ejaria and defender Nacho Vidal due to injury, which limits their creative options and stability and plays into Osasuna’s pressing game.
- The head-to-head record is even (two wins each, one draw), but in the last five meetings, the away team has never won; The 0-0 draw in November fits in with this pattern.
- With home win odds of around 1.8 and Osasuna’s recent scoring rate of 80% (goals in the last three games), “Osasuna to win without conceding” looks particularly valuable.
There could hardly be more pressure in 90 minutes than in this match: Osasuna desperately needs breathing room at the bottom of the table at Estadio El Sadar, while Oviedo, in last place, is clinging to every point. On Saturday evening, Osasuna, under Alessio Lisci, will host Guillermo Almada’s Oviedo on the 20th matchday of the regular season. Osasuna is in 15th place in the table with 19 points, just one point behind Sevilla and level on points with Alavés – so a home win would provide some much-needed relief. Oviedo travels to the bottom of the table with 13 points, just one point behind Levante; in the relegation battle, every point counts, and the head-to-head comparison could still play a role in May. The last encounter, a 0-0 draw in Oviedo in November, fits in with an overall balanced series. Osasuna is also coming off a tough Copa del Rey defeat to Real Sociedad on penalties, despite having led 2-0 – that could take its toll on their freshness. Oviedo has shown resistance in the league recently but has remained winless, and with Costa’s extension, the additions of Fonseca and Borbas, and Moldovan pushing for a departure, the mood is clear.
- Venue: Estadio El Sadar, Pamplona
- Date and time: January 17, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (matchday 20)
The bookmakers see Osasuna as clear favorites at home, with odds of 1.8. This seems understandable given Lisci’s pressing and Budimir’s role as target player against an Oviedo side that is still searching for wins despite Almadá’s brief upturn in form. With Ejaria missing and Nacho Vidal injured, the visitors’ attacking power seems limited – therefore, “Osasuna to win without conceding” offers the best value.
Osasuna form & record check
Osasuna is in 15th place with 19 points, and the table is so tight that every detail counts. Sevilla are only 1 point ahead, Alavés are level on points, so a good week can immediately turn the mood around, and a sloppy half can drag you straight back into the relegation battle. Under Lisci, the performances were competitive, but not always clean at the decisive moments.
Osasuna are likely to line up under Lisci in their usual system with a back four, double six and a trio behind the striker, although this is more of an assessment than a confirmed starting eleven. Fernández seems the most likely option in goal, with Arguibide, Boyomo, Herrando and Cruz forming the back four in front of him. In midfield, Torró and Moncayola should set the pace as double sixes and secure the center.
Oviedo Form & Record Check
Oviedo comes to El Sadar stuck in 20th place in the table with 13 points, just one behind Levante, so the table continues to offer something of a lifeline. Almada has made them more competitive and less chaotic, but the results remain stubbornly stagnant. They haven’t won in their last five league games, relying on four draws, and their goal difference of minus 19 underscores how urgent the situation is.
Almada is likely to field Oviedo in his usual system with a back four, double six, and a trio behind the striker, with Escandell behind a back four of Ahijado, Costas, Carmo, and Alhassane. The double six with Sibo and Colombatto will set the pace, while Hassan, Reina, and Chaira will operate between the lines and repeatedly target the half-spaces and wide areas. Up front, Viñas is most likely to be the target man for direct play and second balls.
Osasuna – Oviedo Head-to-head & statistics
The record over the last five meetings is completely even, with two wins and one draw each. The most recent duel in November 2025 ended 0-0, a rare point after four narrow wins, each by a single goal. It is also striking that the away team has not won any of these five games, with Osasuna winning both home games in 2018 and 2019.
