Osasuna vs Cordoba Predictions

This Saturday’s game in the Spanish Segunda Division sees two sides that will be really disappointed with their seasons so far meet. Both Osasuna and Cordoba have played in the top flight within the past five years but promotions is already looking a distant dream this term and for Cordoba, avoiding the deadly drop to the Segunda B is starting to look like their main priority.

The Andalusian side do at least come into this game following a win. They beat Almeria 1-0 at home last time out to move off the bottom. It was a much needed result for José Ramón Sandoval, an emergency appointment in early August. His new side hadn’t won any of their opening seven fixtures but could move out of the drop-zone this weekend if they can claim all the points again in Pamplona.

Things haven’t really been much better for Osasuna. They’ve only won twice this term following on from a season in which they very narrowly missed out on the play-offs. Defensively they’ve been reasonably solid and that was the main source of their relative success last term. However they’ve looked short on attacking options with just 0.75 goals per game scored so far this term.

That rate goes up at home though and you have to fancy them with home advantage here against troubled opponents. Cordoba may have won last time out but they are a club gripped by financial problems and they’ve been hopeless travellers so far this term. Their 3 away games have all ended in defeats and they’ve conceded 3 or more goals in all of them. They only beat the drop by 3 points last season and it’s hard to see them avoiding a relegation battle this term.

Osasuna have much more organisation and discipline in their ranks. They’ve let in just 0.5 goals per game at home so far and should be able to limit the visitors to a few openings here. At the other end Cordoba are making too many mistakes and Osasuna won’t need to be brilliant to get chances in this match.

They’ve been solid at home so far with 8 of their 9 points coming in front of their own fans in Pamplona and backing an Osasuna Win looks like it could be the smart bet in this one with the hosts eager to move into the top half.