Can Flick’s team continue their winning streak against the strong home team Osasuna?
FC Barcelona continue to have a perfect record in La Liga. Seven games, seven wins, 23:5 goals – the Catalans are at the top of the table under Hansi Flick. Flick’s team will continue on Saturday, when CA Osasuna will try to wrest points from the Blaugrana for the first time this season. However, an Osasuna vs. Barcelona tip on the away win is not a sure thing.
Because Barça seemed quite exhausted and designed to be spared in view of the already frequent English weeks and especially in view of the thin squad against Getafe on Wednesday. In addition, Osasuna is one of the strongest teams at home in the young season. A first slip-up would not come out of nowhere in view of this, the Osasuna vs. Barcelona odds on a Barça point loss are definitely interestingly priced.
So what speaks for the home side from Pamplona and what for the eighth win in a row for Barça? Which tips offer good value, how the direct comparison turns out and how our Osasuna vs. Barcelona forecast ultimately turns out, we discuss that in this preview of the La Liga Saturday evening game, which kicks off at 9pm at El Sadar in Pamplona.
Osasuna – Statistics & current form
CA Osasuna will have watched Barcelona’s home game against Getafe on Wednesday on TV. What Osasuna saw will certainly give the team of coach Vicente Moreno a boost and encouragement before the home game against the Catalans. Barça were not necessarily weak, but they were weaker than they had been recently, and the league leaders seemed less vigorous than in previous weeks.
Since Osasuna is bursting with energy at home in El Sadar and the team from the bullfighters’ city is characterized by its running and fighting strength, Osasuna will certainly not be intimidated by the league leaders going into the game.
Second-best home team in La Liga: Osasuna still unbeaten at home
Osasuna has been building up confidence in home games anyway. After a poor start to the season, with only a slim 1-1 draw at home against promoted Leganes on the first matchday, the northern Spaniards really got going in front of their own fans. The following three home games were all won, with narrow victories against Mallorca (1-0), Celta (3-2) and Las Palmas (2-1). They have yet to pick up points away from home, but Osasuna also took their first away point with a 0-0 draw at Valencia during the week.
Can “Los Rojillos” pose a threat to Barça? If they play with their typical energy and running strength, the Blaugrana will certainly struggle. The Catalans had this trouble during their last two guest appearances at El Sadar anyway (more on this in the direct comparison section). We actually find the Osasuna vs. Barcelona betting odds on a goal by the home team exciting, because if Osasuna scores the first goal, there are sometimes whopping odds of 3-1 at betting providers with a German license, for example in the Crazybuzzer app. Barça were already behind at half-time in two away games, at Rayo and Valencia. Against the home-strong Rojillos, it would not be a surprise for us if Barça were to fall behind for the third time. Because Getafe also had a great chance to score the opening goal on Wednesday.
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Barça also had to overcome a tiny moment of shock – which was not punished – against Getafe. On the other side, there was Lewandowski’s opening and winning goal on Wednesday, which was enough for the seventh win in seven games – despite a modest performance overall over the entire 90 minutes. You could also say that Barça actively conserved energy on the pitch, which is all too understandable.
The Blaugrana squad is extremely depleted, with Marc-André ter Stegen recently suffering badly from a patellar tendon injury, meaning the season is over for Germany’s number 1. Frenkie de Jong, Gavi (both recovery training), Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez are also still missing.
The absence of five midfielders is a big problem, especially when you face a team like Osasuna, who are starting to run into form in midfield. Getafe made it easy for the inexperienced and improvised Barça midfield around Marc Casado, but it should definitely be more demanding against Osasuna.
FC Barcelona away from home, scoring goals and undefeated
That’s why we expect the guests to work hard in Pamplona if they are aiming for their eighth win of the season. The Osasuna v Barcelona tip for an easy Barça win with a handicap seems interesting, but it’s not a safe bet for us. However, Barça have not only won all of their previous four away games, but have also scored 13 goals in the process.
Only Bayern Munich are slightly more dangerous in front of goal in Europe’s top four leagues, with 14 goals on the road. The Osasuna vs. Barcelona prediction: Barça scores over 2.5 goals is remunerated with odds of 2.35 on average.
Osasuna – Barcelona direct comparison / H2H record
Barcelona has won the last two away games at El Sadar 2-1, with Barça scoring the winning goal in the 85th minute on both occasions. Before that, the away game even ended 2-2. So in the last three away games, the clear favorite had a lot of trouble.
However, Barcelona have won the last six matches in a row – across all competitions, including one match in the Supercopa de España – and of the last ten games, eight have been won, with one draw and one defeat.
Osasuna – Barcelona betting tip
In its last three visits to El Sadar, FC Barcelona had some trouble, one game ended in a draw, two were only won very late in the game. We wouldn’t be surprised if it went in that direction again. Because Osasuna is still unbeaten at home and has won three of its four home games, while Barça’s thin squad, extremely shaken by injuries, is already at its wits’ end and understandably could be a bit tired.
We therefore predict another hard-fought game in Pamplona and would not be surprised if the snappy and home-strong Rojillos can annoy Barça (for a long time), for example by scoring a goal or even taking the lead. The Osasuna vs. Barcelona odds on Barcelona winning with a goal against are 2.65, which we consider to be exciting value. If you even believe in the first slip-up of the Flick team, you even get odds of 4.65 on average for a draw.