Osasuna-Sevilla is a match in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and is played on Wednesday at 22:00: predictions, analysis and likely formations.
Osasuna are one of the great surprises of this La Liga. With one round to go before the end of the first half of the season, Osasuna are in seventh place, not too far from the Champions League zone.
There is still half the league to play for, but that of coach Jagoba Arrasate for now is a small masterpiece. The Pamplona club have also been protagonists so far in the Copa del Rey, where a week ago they knocked out reigning champions Betis, caught twice in regulation and extra time (2-2) and beaten on penalties. Pellegrini’s green-and-whites missed two through Canales and Rodriguez, while Budimir and co. missed none. They will now try to reach their first semi-final since the 2004-05 season, when they reached the final and were defeated by Betis. In the new year, Osasuna have not lost yet, passing the two rounds of the Copa del Rey (Gimnastic and Betis) and beating Mallorca in La Liga. Last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Elche left a bitter taste in the mouth.
The King’s Cup is crucial for Sevilla
Arrasate’s men will face Sevilla’s other team in front of their home crowd in the quarter-finals. The national cup takes on particular importance for Jorge Sampaoli’s red-and-whites, who are trying to pull themselves out of a complicated situation.
Rakitic
They are undoubtedly paying for their poor start, which led to Lopetegui’s dismissal and the Argentine coach’s arrival in the middle of the season. Away from the areas that count, Sevilla last Saturday obtained a fundamental victory against Cadiz, in what is to all intents and purposes a salvation clash (it sounds strange, but it is so), brought down by a Rakitic penalty. The classification still doesn’t smile on the Andalusians, as third-last place is just a glue away. And that is why the Copa del Rey, barring a sensational comeback, could be their only chance to qualify for the next European cups.
The prediction
This will be a very balanced match in Pamplona, and one that is likely to be low-scoring, as Sampaoli has recently sorted out his defence and his Sevilla side don’t concede many goals. A draw in regulation play cannot be ruled out.
The Osasuna-Sevilla likely line-up
- OSASUNA (4-3-3): Herrera; Moncayola, Unai García, David García, Cruz; Torró, Oroz, Brašanac; Rubén García, Ezzalzouli, Kike.
- SWISS (3-4-3): Dmitrović; Badé, Gudelj, Rekik; Montiel, Rakitić, Jordán, Acuña; Lamela, En-Nesyri, Suso.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1