Valencia will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins in Spain's top flight for the first time since April when they continue their 2024-25 campaign with a contest against Osasuna on Tuesday evening.
Los Che will enter the match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Girona, while Osasuna were also triumphant last time out, beating Las Palmas 2-1 to rise into seventh spot in the table.
Match preview
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Valencia only picked up one point from their opening five La Liga matches of the season, losing to Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid during an incredibly difficult start.
However, Los Che managed to record a huge two-goal success over Girona on Saturday, with Luis Rioja and Dani Gomez on the scoresheet at Mestalla, and the result moved Ruben Baraja's side off the bottom of the division and into 18th, one point behind 17th-placed Real Valladolid.
Valencia recorded a 1-0 win over Osasuna when the two sides last locked horns in April, but the corresponding fixture at Mestalla last term ended in a 2-1 success for the visitors.
Los Che have not secured a top-four finish in La Liga since 2019, and it will be a huge task for them to challenge for a Champions League spot this term, but a top-seven position is not completely unrealistic.
Last season, Valencia were ninth, eight points behind seventh-placed Real Betis, but they were beaten on 15 occasions in Spain's top flight during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Osasuna, meanwhile, have made a solid start to the season, winning three, drawing one and losing two of their six matches to collect 10 points, which has left them seventh in the table.
Los Rojillos picked up four points from their first two league games of the campaign before losing heavily at Girona at the end of August, but they responded to beat Celta Vigo before the international break.
Osasuna were then beaten 3-1 by Rayo Vallecano on September 16, but they were back to winning ways on Saturday, recording a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas.
Alberto Moleiro cancelled out a penalty from Ante Budimir to leave the two teams level at the interval, but Aimar Oroz's effort on the hour proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Osasuna have actually won on two of their last three trips to Mestalla in Spain's top flight, and they picked up points in 10 of their 19 away league fixtures during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
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Valencia remain without the services of their number one striker Hugo Duro, but Dani Gomez scored while operating through the middle against Girona, and he will continue in that area of the field here.
Rafa Mir is still suspended by the club, while Jose Gaya, Jaume Domenech and Mouctar Diakhaby will also miss out through injury, so Los Che are currently far from full strength.
Head coach Baraja could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Girona, with Javi Guerra expected to operate as the number 10 on Tuesday night.
As for Osasuna, Iker Munoz and Kike Barja will miss the match through injury, but the visitors did not suffer any fresh fitness issues in their win over Las Palmas.
Budimir should continue through the middle, having scored last time out, with Raul Garcia expected to be on the bench for the first whistle on Tuesday night.
Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Garcia should feature in the wide areas for Osasuna, while Lucas Torro will again be asked to operate at the base of the midfield.
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Tarrega, Mosquera, Vazquez; Barrenechea, Pepelu; D Lopez, Guerra, Rioja; D Gomez
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Bretones; Torro; Ruben Garcia, Moncayola, Oroz, Zaragoza; Budimir
We say: Valencia 1-1 Osasuna
There has not actually been a draw between these two sides since January 2021, but we are backing a stalemate here. Both will enter the match off the back of positive results, and we are finding it difficult to predict a winner either way on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
