Sports Mole previews Saturday’s La Liga clash between Osasuna and Leganes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Reigning Segunda Division champions Leganes will begin life back in the top flight with a trip to Estadio El Sadar on Saturday evening, with Osasuna their opponents in La Liga.
Leganes are back in the top tier after a four-season absence, while Osasuna finished 11th in La Liga last term to secure a sixth straight campaign at this level.
Match preview
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Osasuna said goodbye to long-serving head coach Jagoba Arrasate at the end of last season, with the Spaniard departing to take charge of Mallorca, and Vicente Moreno is now in charge of Los Rojillos, with the 49-year-old available after leaving Almeria last September.
Gorritxoak have been steady in La Liga since earning promotion back to this level in 2018-19, finishing 10th, 11th, 10th, seventh and 11th in their last five campaigns.
Osasuna found it difficult during stages of last season, but they finished with a record of 12 wins, nine draws and 17 defeats to collect 45 points, which left them in 11th spot in the table, 12 points above the relegation zone.
Moreno’s side have been relatively quiet in the transfer window, only making two signings thus far, with left-back Abel Bretones arriving from Real Oviedo, while versatile attacker Bryan Zaragoza has moved to the club on loan from Bayern Munich.
Osasuna are on a three-game winning run against Leganes in La Liga, including a 2-1 success when the two teams last locked horns in June 2020.
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Leganes won the Segunda Division last season to secure a return to the top flight, with El Lega claiming 74 points from their 42 matches to finish at the top of the pile.
Borja Jimenez‘s side were only actually three points ahead of third-placed Eibar, who missed out on promotion through the playoffs, so it was a tight second tier last season.
Leganes spent four seasons in La Liga between 2016 and 2020, but they have struggled in the second tier of late, finishing 12th and 14th in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively before managing to claim first last term and earn a spot back in the top flight.
Jimenez’s team have been busy during this summer’s transfer window, with their standout arrival proving to be Miguel de la Fuente from Alaves following a successful loan spell, while Renato Tapia and Oscar Rodriguez are also among those to have joined the promoted club.
Leganes’ biggest departure has been goalkeeper Diego Conde to Villarreal, but they look in good shape heading into the new campaign and will fancy their chances of avoiding the drop.
Osasuna friendly form:
Leganes friendly form:
Team News
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Osasuna are still without the services of Kike Barja due to a long-term knee injury, but the home side are otherwise expected to have a full squad available for this match.
New head coach Moreno is still learning about his players, so he will need to have a good look at certain individuals early in the campaign, but there are likely to be debuts for Bretones and Zaragoza on Saturday, with both expected to start.
David Garcia will be a notable absentee, with the 30-year-old moving to Qatar this summer, but there will be a familiar look to their side from last season, with Ante Budimir, who scored 17 times in La Liga last term, set to lead the line.
As for Leganes, there are likely to be a number of debutants in their side, with De la Fuente, Juan Cruz, Tapia and Rodriguez among those who should start.
De la Fuente was on loan at the club last season, scoring 13 times in all competitions, while Diego Garcia managed 12 goals in 2023-24, and the 23-year-old is also set to start.
Marko Dmitrovic is in line to debut between the sticks, while Valentin Rosier, who has arrived from Besiktas, is expected to play at right-back.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Vidal, U Garcia, Catena, Bretones; Moncayola, Torro, M Gomez; Zaragoza, Budimir, Arnaiz
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Rosier, Saenz, Arambarri, J Hernandez; Tapia, Brasanac, Cisse; Rodriguez; De la Fuente, Garcia
We say: Osasuna 1-1 Leganes
Leganes have not managed to beat Osasuna in La Liga since November 2016, and it is a big ask for the promoted outfit to win on Saturday. That said, we like the look of the Leganes squad this season and believe that they can claim a point in their campaign opener here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.