High-flying Osasuna will be looking to make it four La Liga victories in a row when they continue their domestic campaign at home to a struggling Granada outfit on Friday night.
The home side are currently fifth in the table, having picked up 17 points from their opening nine matches, while Granada sit 17th in the division, collecting just six points from their first eight games.
Match preview
Osasuna have excelled in La Liga this season, winning five, drawing two and losing two of their nine matches to collect 17 points, which has left them in fifth, level on points with second-placed Real Madrid.
The fact that the Reds are just three points off the top of the table at this stage is a credit to the work that head coach Jagoba Arrasate and his staff are putting in at the club.
Osasuna have finished 10th and 11th in their last two seasons at this level, having only returned to the top flight in 2019, and it appears that they are more than capable of challenging for a top-half spot this term.
Los Rojillos have won each of their last three in the league and four of their last five, overcoming Alaves, Mallorca, Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal during an excellent run of form.
Last time out, Arrasate's side recorded a 2-1 victory over Champions League side Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica, with Chimy Avila netting the winner in the 87th minute of Sunday's contest.
Granada, meanwhile, failed to win in their opening seven matches of the campaign, drawing three and losing four to collect three points, which had left them inside the relegation zone.
Robert Moreno's side managed to put their first three points on the board before the international break, though, as they ran out 1-0 winners over Sevilla courtesy of a first-half effort from Ruben Rochina.
Granada had been due to take on Atletico Madrid last weekend, but the fixture was postponed due to the scheduling of the South American World Cup qualification fixtures, so Nazaries have not been in action since October 3, which could help or hinder them on Friday night.
The Andalusian outfit have finished seventh and ninth in their last two seasons at this level, but it is difficult to imagine them enjoying similar success this term considering what has happened in the early months.
Granada have won three of their last four league matches against Osasuna but suffered a 3-1 defeat in the corresponding match between the two teams during the 2020-21 campaign.
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Team News
Osasuna will be without the services of Kike, who sprained an ankle against Villarreal at the weekend, so there could be a spot in the final third of the field for Avila.
Aridane Hernandez is also expected to miss out once again, but Ante Budimir and Jonas Ramalho could prove their fitness ahead of kickoff on Friday night, with the duo facing late examinations.
Ruben Garcia was replaced against the Yellow Submarine in the second half, but it was a tactical decision rather than an enforced alteration, and the Spaniard is set to join Avila in the final third of the field.
Meanwhile, Lucas Torro and Jon Moncayola are expected to keep their spots in the starting XI, as Arrasate is unlikely to alter his 5-3-2 formation here.
As for Granada, Yan Eteki and Neyder Lozano remain on the sidelines through injury, while Angel Montoro and Victor Diaz are both doubts, having picked up issues against Sevilla before the international break.
Diaz is expected to recover in time, though, meaning that it should be a very similar XI that took to the field for the impressive success over Julen Lopetegui's side.
A 4-2-3-1 formation should see Rochina keep his spot on the right, with Luis Suarez through the middle, so Darwin Machis and Carlos Bacca could be on the bench once again.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Vidal, U Garcia, D Garcia, Cruz, Sanchez; Moncayola, Torro, Brasanac; Avila, R Garcia
Granada possible starting lineup:
Maximiano; Quini, Diaz, Abram, Neva; Milla, Gonalons; Rochina, Puertas, Soro; Suarez
We say: Osasuna 2-1 Granada
Granada are certainly better than they have shown for the majority of the season, but Osasuna's form and overall performance level cannot be ignored; we are actually expecting a relatively tight match on Friday night but believe that Osasuna will have enough quality to put another three points on the board.
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