Osasuna vs Ath Bilbao Prediction & Betting Tips (3 January)

Osasuna, 12th, wants to get off to a good start in La Liga. Little seen in the first half of the table during the first 17 days, the Basque club still finished 2025 well with a very good victory obtained at home against Deportivo Alaves 3-0. 3 days earlier, the Rojillos rose to the occasion against Huesca in the 1/16 final of the Copa del Rey, winning 2-4 after extra time. At home, the team coached by Alessio Lisci has two successes, against Alaves and Levante 2-0. Overall, she only lost two matches without her home in this first half of the campaign. For its part, Athletic Bilbao is not sovereign this season.

Often diminished by injuries, Athletic only occupies 8th place with 23 points in 18 matches, an average of 1.27 points collected per game, far too little for a team which qualified for the Champions League by finishing fifth in La Liga last year. To date, the Lions of San Mamés have lost three of their last four matches in the league, against Real Madrid 0-3, on the pitch of Celta Vigo 2-0 and again at home against the Pericos of Espanyol Barcelona 1-2. Furthermore, the Catalans are fifth in La Liga and Bilbao are now ten points behind them. 

Suffering from a ruptured cruciate ligament, midfielder Iker Benito will not play in this Basque derby today. Selected to play in the CAN with Cameroon, the starting central defender Boyomo will logically not be on the match sheet this afternoon. On the other hand, the Habs Valentin Rosier will be well operational as will Croatian international Ante Budimir (6 goals in La Liga), winger Victor Munoz (2 goals, 1 assist) without forgetting Ruben Garcia (1 goal, 4 assists) and Raul Garcia (3 goals). For Ernesto Valverde, central defender Yeray Alvarez is still suspended while Vivian will be back from suspension. Having undergone meniscus surgery, Moroccan striker Sannadi is still convalescing, at the same time missing the CAN at home. Ben Prados and Egiluz (cross ligaments on the menu for both players) will be out, like defenders Berchiche (muscle injury) and Aymeric Laporte.

The talented Williams brothers Inaki (no CAN with Ghana) and Nico (3 goals, 2 assists in La Liga) will be on the short trip to El Sadar as will midfielders Berenguer, Sancet, Jauregizar and Ruiz de Galarreta. The probable lineups for Osasuna - Athletic Bilbao: Osasuna: Herrera - Rosier, Catena, Herrando, Cruz, Moncayola - Torro, Oroz, Ruben Garcia - Budimir, Munoz.Athletic Bilbao: Simon - Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Boiro - Galarreta, Jauregizar - I.Williams, Sancet, N.Williams - Berenguer.