Barcelona Vs Osasuna
Barcelona Vs OsasunaThursday 16 July 2020 – 20:00 Kick-Off
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Osasuna +2.25 (Asian Handicap betting)
Odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: Unibet
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 14 July 2020)
Preview: The reigning Spanish champions could relinquish their league title on Thursday, with Barcelona aware that even victory at the Camp Nou over Osasuna would be in vein should the outcome elsewhere in Madrid not end favourably.
Spanish La Liga Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Barcelona Preview – Title defences hinges on Real Madrid slipping up?
After back-to-back league titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19, Barcelona’s reign as the kings of Spanish football could come to an end in this penultimate round of an elongated 2019-20 La Liga season. Meanwhile, victory at home to Osasuna – something that has become the norm in recent times, with the Catalans winning all of the past seven meetings at the Camp Nou in all competitions – may not even suffice in keeping the title race alive.
Should Real Madrid pick up maximum points at the same time elsewhere in Madrid, then Zinedine Zidane’s men will be crowned the latest La Liga champions. And if recent displays from Quique Setien’s Barca (2nd – W24 D7 L5) are anything to go by, labouring to unconvincing 1-0 wins at home to rock-bottom Espanyol and away in Real Valladolid, we are looking at a side who are only too aware of the stark reality in front of them.
Barca were especially fortunate to come out on top versus the latter, losing the xG battle (1.43 to 1.02) against a Valladolid outfit with nothing to play for in 14th. A result which extended their unbeaten league run to ten games (W7 D3) but perhaps hinted at a collective who would rather this season be over with. At the very least, though, they will want to see the term out without incurring a single home defeat (currently W16 D2).
Osasuna Preview – In-form visitors determined to see out successful term in style?
Despite returning to their La Liga commitments comforted by the knowledge that their status in the Spanish top tier was all but assured, there hasn’t been much in the way of complacency from Osasuna (11th – W12 D12 L12). For that, head coach Jagoba Arrasate and his players should be applauded. They could yet wrap up a solid campaign with a marquee result should they capitalise on what has recently been a lacklustre Barca side.
Survival was always the end goal for the club, having recently returned to La Liga following their promotion as Segunda Division champions last season. That objective was achieved with consummate ease. Osasuna sit 11th ahead of this penultimate round, some sixteen points above the bottom three and only two points shy of Valencia in 9th. A top-half finish therefore, something last achieved in 2011-12, is entirely feasible.
Sneaking into the top half of the table might well depend on them getting a result at the Camp Nou, where they’ve lost six consecutive league games since a 1-0 win in 2009. On a more encouraging note, the Pamplona outfit arrive in decent shape. Saturday’s 2-1 win at home to Celta Vigo was a fourth in six games (W4 D1 L1) and was the perfect riposte to losing 3-0 at Real Betis – their first three-goal margin of defeat on the road all season.
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Barcelona Vs Osasuna Betting Advice
Three straight wins coming into this game highlights the efforts made by Barcelona to at least exert some pressure on leaders Real Madrid. In truth, though, they have been a touch fortunate to even be co close to the table-toppers, and were certainly below par last time out. Barca, however, are usually a different beast at the Camp Nou, dropping just four points there all season having won 16 of 18 in La Liga.
Barcelona Vs Osasuna – Key Facts
- Along with Real Madrid, Barcelona are still to lose a league game at home in 2019-20 after winning 16 of 18 said matches thus far.
- Osasuna are finishing the campaign by producing their best form of the entire term, collecting 13 of the last 18 points (W4 D1 L1).
- Barcelona have won all seven previous home encounters with Osasuna in all competitions, doing so by an aggregate of 27-2.
A win for Barca would continue their dominance at home to Osasuna, who are bidding to avoid a seventh straight La Liga defeat at the Camp Nou. However, the visitors can take heart from the performance at El Sadar in August, when holding the champs to a 2-2 draw on Matchday 3, while a recent run of four wins in six won’t do their self-belief any harm whatsoever. Moreover, Barca’s recent scorelines at home – 1-0, 2-0, 1-0, 2-2 and 1-0 – have all been modest.
Best Betting Odds – Barcelona Vs Osasuna
Barcelona – 2/13 (Betway)
Draw – 8/1 (Betfair)
Osasuna – 18/1 (Betfair)
