Sevilla vs Osasuna

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan forms the backdrop for a high-stakes La Liga showdown between Sevilla and Osasuna.

Very few things are going Sevilla’s way these days. After surrendering an early lead in an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to La Liga leaders Girona in their last league encounter, Quique Sanchez Flores’ side slipped to a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in midweek Copa del Rey action. It’s been a thoroughly disappointing start to the new calendar year for ‘Los Rojiblancos’ as they’ve lost all three La Liga matches by a combined score of 10-3, allowing 18th-placed Cadiz to reduce the gap to a single point. Bookies backing them for a win hardly give Sevilla any confidence, considering they’ve only managed two victories in nine top-flight games as pre-game favorites this season. That’s not to mention they’re winless in their last four top-flight H2Hs versus Osasuna (D2, L2).

On the other hand, Osasuna pulled off a pulsating 3-2 home triumph against Getafe last weekend to record back-to-back La Liga wins for the first time this season. However, not since the first week of October have Jagoba Arrasate’s men won a top-flight assignment on hostile turf (D1, L4) despite facing the sides starting the round below them in the standings on three occasions during that stretch. In search of good omens, Osasuna halted a dreadful nine-game losing La Liga run at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with a 3-2 win in this corresponding fixture last term, securing a chance to beat Sevilla in two consecutive away league H2Hs for the first time since 2006.