Very important game in the future of La Liga for Espanyol against Osasuna.
Last week I already argued in a forecast against Getafe that Espanyol should score at least 4 points between the game against the team of the Community of Madrid and this against the Navarrese. Knowing now that that game ended in a 1-1 draw, this one becomes even more important.
Espanyol, no matter how much Machín does not want to call these games final, is what they are. Direct rivals, playing at home and having the disadvantage that at the moment they would descend.
Today Espanyol plays in Europa League, but many rotations are expected, since they are classified and being first or not, it loses importance with its situation in the league.
Despite having enough casualties, Barn will be available and I think it is a game in which the attitude has to be in the 11 that play in a very powerful way. In principle there will be Piatti, Vargas, Javi López, Ferreyra and Naldo Gomes.
The numbers at home are horrible with 1 draw and 6 losses, 3 goals in favor and 14 against. It is true that the tie was in the last game, before a team that came forward and closes very well and still got 1 point, so the dynamics start to be better and Machín’s teachings to be noticed.
For its part, the Osasuna comes from losing to Athletic at home after a streak of unbeatable record of a Spanish team at home. Thing that will have removed tension but at the same time discouraged the reds. These will not have Martínez, Barja and Hernández.
Anyway the Navarrese team is a team with a lot of character and that demands a lot from its rivals. But as visitors they have only won 1 victory in 7 games.
Therefore, Espanyol’s doubts are clear and obvious but he is at the limit if he wants to have any option to save himself and Machín starts to notice. In addition to Osasuna’s low victory rank as a visitor, who has only achieved 7 points of 21 possible and with few goals goals I think he can be a good rival for the Catalan team to take their first 3 points at home.
That said, although the fatigue should not make a dent for the many rotations and low intensity that is expected in the Europa League game, the doubts that this team still issues makes me want to have margin and have the draw as null.
