Las Palmas will be bidding to make it four straight wins in all competitions when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Saturday evening for a contest with Osasuna.
The visitors are currently 10th in the La Liga table, boasting 17 points from their opening 12 games of the campaign, while Osasuna are 12th, picking up only 13 points from their first 12 matches of 2023-24.
Match preview
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Osasuna were excellent last season, finishing seventh in the La Liga table in addition to making the final of the Copa del Rey, but it would be fair to say that the team have had difficulties this term.
Los Rojillos have won four, drawn one and lost seven of their 12 league matches this season to collect 13 points, which is only enough for 12th position in the table ahead of the next set of fixtures.
Osasuna won two of their three La Liga matches between October 1 and October 20, but they have now lost their last two against Real Betis and Girona, conceding six times in the process.
Jagoba Arrasate's side will believe that they are good enough for a top-half finish again this season, and there is still plenty of football to be played in the coming months, but their overall performance level has certainly dipped after an excellent 2022-23.
Osasuna have not met Las Palmas in Spain's top flight since March 2017, when they suffered a 5-2 defeat, but they beat Los Amarillos 2-0 when the pair last locked horns in May 2019 in the Segunda Division.
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Las Palmas are incredibly the joint-lowest goalscorers in La Liga at this stage of the campaign, only managing 10, which is the same number as both Alaves and Cadiz.
The team's success has instead been built on an excellent defensive record, conceding only 11 times in their opening 12 matches, which is a record only bettered by Real Madrid (eight) at this stage.
Las Palmas have won five, drawn two and lost five of their 12 La Liga matches to collect 17 points, which has left them up in 10th position, and the newly-promoted outfit will enter this fixture off the back of three straight wins in all competitions.
Indeed, Garcia Pimienta's side have overcome Almeria and Atletico Madrid in their last two in the league, in addition to beating Manacor in the Copa del Rey, while they have six victories from their last eight games.
Kirian Rodriguez and Benito Ramirez were the goalscorers in the 2-1 success over Atletico last time out, and the result would have undoubtedly left them in a confident mood heading into this weekend's match.
Team News
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Osasuna still have just one player on the sidelines through injury, with Juan Cruz remaining unavailable for selection due to a muscular problem.
Ante Budimir scored twice in the 4-2 loss to Girona last time out, and he will definitely continue in the final third of the field, but head coach Arrasate is expected to make at least a couple of changes.
Ruben Garcia and Pablo Ibanez could potentially both come into the XI on Saturday, but there are unlikely to be any alterations at the back despite the shaky defensive performance last time out.
As for Las Palmas, Alvaro Lemos, Fabio Gonzalez, Sandro Ramirez and Pejino will again miss out due to fitness problems.
Club captain Jonathan Viera has recently been absent for personal reasons, and there have been suggestions that he has been attempting to secure a lucrative move to the United Arab Emirates, but he could be back in the squad here.
Benito Ramirez's goal off the bench against Atletico could earn him a spot in the starting side on Saturday, but Munir El Haddadi is set to continue through the middle for the in-form visitors.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, D Garcia, Mojica; Torro, Ibanez; Ruben Garcia, Oroz, Pena; Budimir
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S Cardona; Park, Munoz, Perrone, K Rodriguez, B Ramirez; El Haddadi
We say: Osasuna 0-0 Las Palmas
These two sides have only drawn three league games between them this season, but we can see a stalemate on Saturday. Las Palmas are very strong defensively but struggle to find the back of the net, and we are predicting a 0-0 to occur on Saturday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
