Valencia Vs Osasuna

Valencia is set to continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Osasuna on Tuesday evening, aiming for consecutive wins for the first time since April. Following a difficult start to the season, this upcoming match presents a crucial opportunity for Los Che to maintain momentum after securing a much-needed victory over Girona. On the other hand, Osasuna will be looking to extend their own winning form, having climbed to seventh place in the table after their recent triumph over Las Palmas.

Valencia's season did not begin as planned, as they faced significant struggles in their opening five La Liga matches. During that stretch, they managed to collect just one point, enduring defeats to formidable opponents like Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, and Atletico Madrid. This poor run of form placed them under intense pressure, and the club's fans began to express concerns over the direction of the team under manager Rubén Baraja. 

The difficult schedule was a key factor in Valencia’s struggles. Facing four of the league’s top clubs early in the season presented a challenge that was always going to be tough to overcome. However, despite their underwhelming start, Baraja’s side showed resilience, and their fortunes finally turned when they secured a vital 2-0 victory over Girona last weekend. This result lifted them off the bottom of the table and into 18th place, just one point behind 17th-placed Real Valladolid, marking a potential turning point in their season. The goals in that match came from Luis Rioja and Dani Gómez, whose contributions were pivotal in securing three points for Valencia. 

Valencia’s previous encounters with Osasuna also suggest that Tuesday’s match could be a tightly contested affair. The last time these two teams met, in April of the previous season, Valencia came away with a 1-0 win. However, it’s worth noting that Osasuna won the reverse fixture at Mestalla last season, securing a 2-1 victory. This mixed record means that Valencia cannot take anything for granted, especially given Osasuna’s strong start to the current campaign.

Looking at the broader context, Valencia has endured a challenging few seasons. The last time the club finished in the top four of La Liga, securing a spot in the prestigious UEFA Champions League, was in 2019. Since then, their performance has been marked by inconsistency, with the club struggling to re-establish itself as one of Spain’s elite teams. The 2023-24 season saw Valencia finish in ninth place, eight points behind seventh-placed Real Betis, which was a disappointing outcome for a club with such a rich history.

Valencia’s inconsistency was evident last season as they suffered 15 defeats, a statistic that highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities and inability to compete with the league’s top teams on a regular basis. However, despite their shortcomings, there were also moments of promise, and the current season presents an opportunity for Baraja’s side to build on those flashes of quality. While it may be unrealistic to expect Valencia to challenge for a top-four spot this season, a top-seven finish, which would secure European football, is not entirely out of reach.

Key to Valencia’s success will be their ability to find consistency in both attack and defense. The team has struggled to score goals regularly in recent seasons, and their defense has been prone to lapses that have cost them valuable points. The victory over Girona, however, provided a blueprint for how they can turn their season around, with a solid defensive display complemented by clinical finishing. If Valencia can replicate that performance against Osasuna, they will have a strong chance of climbing further up the table.

In contrast to Valencia’s struggles, Osasuna has enjoyed a relatively positive start to their 2024-25 campaign. With three wins, one draw, and two losses from their six matches, the team from Pamplona currently sits in seventh place in the La Liga standings, having accumulated 10 points. This strong start reflects the progress made under head coach Jagoba Arrasate, who has successfully instilled a sense of stability and belief within the squad.

Osasuna began the season by picking up four points from their first two matches, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level. However, they suffered a setback at the end of August, when they were handed a heavy defeat by Girona. Despite this, the team responded positively with a victory over Celta Vigo before the international break. 

Osasuna’s ability to bounce back from defeats has been a key feature of their season thus far. After their 3-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano on September 16, many wondered whether the team would be able to regain their form. They answered those doubts emphatically with a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas last weekend. In that match, Ante Budimir’s early penalty was canceled out by a goal from Las Palmas' Alberto Moleiro, but Osasuna showed resilience and determination to secure all three points, with Aimar Oroz scoring the winning goal in the second half.

Osasuna’s recent record against Valencia, particularly at Mestalla, will give them confidence heading into Tuesday’s match. They have won on two of their last three visits to Valencia in La Liga, a statistic that underlines their ability to perform well away from home against tough opposition. Moreover, Osasuna’s away form during the 2023-24 season was solid, as they managed to collect points from 10 of their 19 away fixtures, highlighting their resilience on the road.

The team’s strong start to the current season has been built on a foundation of solid defensive play and clinical finishing in attack. Players like Budimir and Oroz have stepped up in key moments, providing the goals that have propelled Osasuna into the upper half of the table. If they can continue to perform at this level, a top-seven finish, which would secure qualification for European competition, is well within their reach.

For Valencia, the key to success in Tuesday’s match will be replicating the defensive solidity they displayed against Girona. The central defensive pairing of Gabriel Paulista and Mouctar Diakhaby will need to be at their best to contain Osasuna’s attacking threats. In midfield, the partnership between Javi Guerra and Hugo Guillamón will be crucial in controlling the tempo of the game and providing a platform for Valencia’s attackers to create chances.

Luis Rioja, who scored in the win over Girona, will once again be a key player for Valencia in attack. His pace and creativity on the wing will be vital in stretching Osasuna’s defense and creating opportunities for Dani Gómez and other attacking players.

Osasuna, meanwhile, will look to Budimir to lead the line and provide a focal point for their attacks. The Croatian striker’s ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play will be crucial, particularly if Osasuna looks to hit Valencia on the counter-attack. Oroz will also play a key role in midfield, as his ability to pick out passes and create chances from deep positions makes him a vital cog in Osasuna’s attacking play.

For both Valencia and Osasuna, Tuesday’s match represents an important opportunity to build momentum in their respective seasons. Valencia is still in the early stages of what promises to be a challenging campaign, but a victory over Osasuna could provide a significant confidence boost and help them climb out of the relegation zone. On the other hand, Osasuna will be keen to consolidate their position in the top half of the table and push towards securing a European spot.

Valencia’s home advantage could prove decisive, as Mestalla has traditionally been a fortress for the club. However, Osasuna’s recent success at the stadium means that they will not be intimidated by the challenge and will approach the match with confidence.

Ultimately, the result could come down to which team is more clinical in front of goal. Both sides have shown defensive frailties at times this season, so whichever team can capitalize on their chances is likely to come out on top. For Valencia, securing back-to-back wins would mark a significant step forward in their efforts to turn their season around, while Osasuna will be eager to continue their strong start and maintain their push for a top-seven finish.