Barcelona vs Osasuna Prediction & Betting Tips (31 January)

FC Barcelona have probably reached a point of no return following their defeat to Villarreal last weekend 3-5. A match which delighted the football world with its scenario but which definitively sealed the future of the legend Xavi on the Catalan bench since, like Jurgen Kloop at Liverpool, he will leave Catalonia at the end of the season. Coming back to last weekend's match, the Blaugrana were down 0-2 before reversing the trend 3-2 then finally crashing in the last ten minutes 3-5. The worst in this story is that the reigning champion has had a series of defensive routs, conceding 16 goals over the last 15 days, since the lost final of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid. For the title, the Culers' hopes have come to an end, but the Champions League obviously remains a goal.

Osasuna is not having a quality season unlike the previous two. In battle to simply reach the first half of the table 12th, the club located in Navarre has the opportunity against a "sick" Barça to return to 10th position with this late match. Often convalescing this season, the Rojillos have been better in recent weeks in La Liga with a series of three games without defeat including two successes against Almeria 1-0 and against Getafe, mid-table candidate 3-2. Last weekend, they took a point at Sevilla FC 1-1, clearly in the lead this season.

It will be time to come back for Ter Stegen who sees his main competitor (Pena) take the fleet in all matches now. However, the starting goalkeeper and winner of the title of best player in La Liga last season will probably be OUT (still injured) although a return is becoming clearer. It's already difficult from a sporting point of view, let's note that Alejandro Baldé was injured and it's the end of the season for the left back. He thus joins Gavi (ruptured cruciate ligaments) while Raphinha, Sergi Roberto, Marcos Alonso and Inigo Martinez are still on the side (injured). Players like Romeu, Lewandowski (8 goals, 4 assists in La Liga) and Araujo (coveted by Bayern) are one yellow away from a possible suspension. In the transfer window, Vitor Roque arrived in the form of a transfer but for the moment shows none of the talent demonstrated in Brazil with Athletico Parananense. Yet another hard blow for the FCB which saw Joao Félix injured in training and according to the first examinations, it seems quite serious (forfeit this evening).

Injured in a calf, Chimy Avila (less successful in front of the bars this season) will miss this trip to the Olympic stadium in Montjuic. Who scored again to bring Sevilla a point? This is obviously the only offensive threat this season at Osasuna, Ante Budimir. The Croatian international is doing more than ever with 10 goals and 2 assists (16 goals in one season, career record with Sampdoria). Note that the Basque group will therefore be making the trip in full with the exception of Avila. Recently, in the transfer window, two players with a sporadic role left via loans, Diego Moreno (Cartagena) and Nacho Vidal (Mallorca). The young Boiro Adama has signed for Bilbao.