Osasuna Vs Las Palmas

Las Palmas’ quest for their first victory in the 2024-25 La Liga season continues this Saturday when they travel to El Sadar Stadium to face Osasuna. After a difficult start to the season, the visitors find themselves struggling near the bottom of the league standings, having earned just two points from their opening five matches. On the other hand, Osasuna, although slightly better off, are currently 13th in the table with seven points from their five games. Both teams will be eager to secure a much-needed win to boost their positions in the table.

Osasuna kicked off their 2024-25 La Liga season in a fairly solid manner, picking up four points from their first two matches. Under the management of Vicente Moreno, the team opened their campaign with a hard-fought draw against Leganes before securing their first victory of the season by beating Mallorca. However, the promising start was followed by a heavy 4-0 defeat to Girona at the end of August, which exposed the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.

In response to that setback, Osasuna bounced back with a 3-2 triumph over Celta Vigo just before the international break, offering hope that they could regain some momentum. However, the team’s inconsistency came to the fore once again when they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano in their most recent outing on Monday evening. This loss highlighted the key issue facing Osasuna this season: inconsistency.

Despite having shown flashes of quality, the team has been unable to find the balance needed to string together a series of positive results. With seven points from five matches, Osasuna currently sit in 13th position, which is far from disastrous, but their defensive frailties are a cause for concern. So far, Osasuna have conceded 10 goals in just five matches, giving them the joint-second worst defensive record in the division. Moreno will be keen to address these defensive shortcomings if his side is to improve and push for a more secure mid-table position or even a top-half finish.

In recent seasons, Osasuna has established itself as a mid-table team in La Liga, consistently avoiding the drop but falling short of breaking into the top echelon of Spanish football. Over the last five campaigns, they have finished 10th, 11th, 10th, seventh, and 11th, showing a pattern of relative stability. However, the club’s ambitions are likely higher than just surviving in the top flight, and they will be aiming to make strides towards a more consistent and competitive performance across the season.

Their record against Las Palmas, however, suggests a challenging encounter. The two teams faced each other twice in La Liga last season, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws. Furthermore, Osasuna has not managed to secure a victory over Las Palmas since a Segunda Division clash in May 2019. The upcoming fixture presents an opportunity for the hosts to end that winless run and gather some crucial points as they continue their pursuit of stability in the early stages of the season.

Las Palmas have found the opening weeks of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign to be an uphill battle. Sitting 19th in the table, they have collected just two points from their first five matches, making them one of the poorest-performing teams in the division. Only Valencia, who are currently bottom of the league, have fared worse during this early stretch.

Under the guidance of manager Luis Carrion, Las Palmas began the season with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Sevilla, a result that initially seemed to offer some optimism. However, the team's subsequent performances have been disappointing. A 1-0 loss to Leganes followed the opening draw, which was a major setback in what was a winnable fixture. After that, Las Palmas recorded their best result of the season so far by holding reigning champions Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the end of August. This was seen as a significant achievement, as few teams manage to take points off Real Madrid, especially away from home.

Yet, despite that encouraging draw against the champions, Las Palmas have been unable to build any sustained momentum. They followed up the Madrid draw with consecutive losses to Alaves and Athletic Bilbao, conceding five goals across those two matches. Defensive fragility has been a recurring theme for Carrion’s side, and it has cost them valuable points in games where they might have hoped to at least take a share of the spoils.

Las Palmas’ most recent match was a 3-2 defeat at home to Athletic Bilbao. Although the team put up a spirited fight, ultimately clawing back two goals in the second half, they were unable to overcome the deficit they had created for themselves earlier in the match. It was a case of too little, too late for Los Amarillos, and they left the field with nothing to show for their efforts.

One of the main issues Las Palmas have faced is a lack of consistency in both attack and defense. While they have shown that they can compete against top teams, as demonstrated by their draw with Real Madrid, their inability to maintain that level of performance across multiple matches has been detrimental to their cause. If they are to turn their season around, they will need to find a way to balance their play, tightening up defensively while also being more clinical in front of goal.

This season marks Las Palmas’ second consecutive campaign in La Liga after securing survival last term by finishing 16th. Their return to the top flight after a period in the lower leagues was seen as a positive step, but they are now facing the challenge of solidifying their position in La Liga. For the first time since 2018, Las Palmas are playing back-to-back seasons in Spain’s top division, and staying up will require a more consistent and resilient approach than what they have shown so far.

As they prepare to take on Osasuna, Las Palmas will be looking to replicate their better performances from earlier in the season. The match provides them with an opportunity to secure their first win of the campaign, which could prove to be a crucial moment in kick-starting their season. However, the team’s recent form suggests that this will be no easy task, especially away from home.

One of the central themes of Saturday’s match will be the battle between two teams that have struggled for consistency in the early part of the season. Osasuna, while superior on paper, have shown vulnerabilities that Las Palmas could exploit, particularly in defense. Having conceded 10 goals in their opening five games, Osasuna are far from impenetrable, and Las Palmas will need to take advantage of any defensive lapses.

For Las Palmas, one of the key players to watch will be Alberto Moleiro. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been one of the team’s bright sparks, and his creativity will be vital in unlocking Osasuna’s defense. Moleiro’s ability to find space between the lines and deliver precise passes will be crucial if Las Palmas are to create chances and convert them into goals.

Meanwhile, for Osasuna, the responsibility of leading the attack will likely fall to Ante Budimir. The Croatian forward has been the team’s main goal threat, and his physical presence in the box could cause problems for Las Palmas’ backline, which has struggled at times this season. Budimir’s ability to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play will be key for Osasuna, particularly in a match where they are expected to dominate possession.

Both teams enter the match with defensive concerns. Osasuna’s record of 10 goals conceded is worrying, and their inability to keep clean sheets could prove costly. Similarly, Las Palmas have shipped nine goals in their five matches, making them one of the leakiest defenses in the division. The defensive frailties on both sides suggest that this could be an open and entertaining match, with both teams looking to exploit each other’s weaknesses.

Osasuna will need to tighten up at the back if they are to avoid slipping further down the table. Manager Vicente Moreno is likely to emphasize the importance of defensive organization, particularly in set-piece situations, where his team has been vulnerable this season. Las Palmas, on the other hand, will need to ensure that they remain compact and organized when out of possession, as they have been caught out by quick transitions in recent matches.

For Osasuna, this match represents an opportunity to move further away from the relegation zone and towards the upper half of the table. A victory would give them 10 points from six matches, which would put them in a strong position heading into the next phase of the season. On the other hand, Las Palmas desperately need a win to lift themselves out of the bottom three and start building some momentum.