Osasuna's Home Advantage
When analyzing the upcoming clash between CA Osasuna and Deportivo Alaves, one cannot overlook the historical context and recent form of both teams. Osasuna has shown a strong home presence, winning 7 out of their last 17 home encounters against Alaves. This home advantage is further emphasized by their ability to score consistently, having not failed to score in any of their 7 home matches this season. In contrast, Alaves has struggled on the road, failing to score in 4 of their 7 away matches.
Recent Form and Key Players
Osasuna's recent form has been a mixed bag, but they have demonstrated resilience, notably in their 3-2 victory against Athletic Bilbao. Players like Ante Budimir and Bryan Zaragoza have been pivotal in their attacking play, while Ruben Garcia Santos has been a key playmaker with 4 assists. On the other hand, Alaves is grappling with inconsistency, highlighted by their recent 1-3 loss to Real Betis. The absence of their first-choice goalkeeper, Antonio Sivera, due to injury, could further weaken their defense.
Head-to-Head Insights
Historically, matches between these two teams have been closely contested. The most common result when Osasuna hosts Alaves is a narrow 0-1 loss, but recent encounters have been more favorable for Osasuna, with a 2-2 draw in their last home meeting. The average goals per match between these teams stand at 2.4, suggesting a likelihood of both teams finding the net.
Tactical Considerations and Predictions
Osasuna tends to score a significant portion of their goals between the 31st and 45th minutes, while Alaves often finds the net late in the game, between the 76th and 90th minutes. This timing could be crucial in determining the flow of the match. Given Osasuna's home form and Alaves' defensive vulnerabilities, a home win seems the most probable outcome. However, considering both teams' scoring patterns, a scenario where both teams score is also likely.