Osasuna vs Almeria Predictions

This Saturday’s match features two sides who have made pretty poor starts to the new season in the Spanish Segunda Division. Both Almeria and Osasuna have played in the top flight in the recent past but they will need to start showing a lot more if they are to have any chance of getting back to that level this term.

Osasuna on paper have a much better chance. They only finished a point outside of the play-off places last season. That was a pretty solid effort given the abject way in which they were relegated from La Liga. However, scoring goals was still a major problem for them even in the lower tier and they scored just 1.05 goals per game on average last time around.

As for Almeria, they are a club that has fallen on pretty hard times. They spent 6 seasons in La Liga between 2007 and 2015 but since then they’ve largely been battling just to stay in the Segunda and avoid falling into the relative wilderness of the regionalised Segunda B. They have twice finished just 1 place above the relegation places, including last term when they only survived on goal difference.

These sides both come into this game with just 1 point on the board but Osasuna are massive favourites with the bookies. A win may be beyond Almeria but they have enough about them to at least compete against unimpressive Osasuna. The visitors haven’t lost by more than a single goal this term and have had some tricky games, including a trip to a decent Cadiz side and a clash with early leaders Malaga. Only 1 of their last 12 Segunda Division games have seen them lose by more than a single goal, so they aren’t an easy team to sweep aside.

Osasuna aren’t playing well enough to suggest they will do that here. None of their last 12 home league games have seen them win by more than a goal and they have dropped points in 5 of their last 7 outings at El Sadar. Overall backing Almeria Double Chance could be the smart move.

In terms of the outcome, a draw is certainly more likely than an away win. 3 of the last 5 league matches in Pamplona have ended 1-1 so backing a 1-1 Draw could be worth a punt here too.