Athletic Bilbao face a tricky trip to El Sadar this Saturday to take on CA Osasuna in the twelfth round of LaLiga. The Basque side arrives in high spirits after their derby win over Real Sociedad and aims to pick up another away victory to continue climbing the standings, where they currently sit seventh with 15 points.
Osasuna, meanwhile, arrives after a defeat to Deportivo and will look to react with the support of their home crowd.
Recent Form and Context
Athletic's recent run invites optimism. They have won three of their last five official matches, including a resounding 4-0 victory over Getafe and a 1-6 Copa del Rey win at Prat. Their last league outing was a hard-fought 2-1 win against Real Sociedad, with goals from Iñaki Williams and Álex Berenguer, who is the team's top scorer this season with four goals. The team has scored 14 goals in ten matchdays while conceding ten.
Osasuna's form has been more irregular, with two wins in their last six outings. They lost their last match at Riazor (1-2) and were thrashed by Betis earlier. However, they are always a tough opponent at El Sadar and possess weapons like striker Ante Budimir to punish aerial balls.
Match Outlook and Lineups
The head-to-head record is balanced, with two wins apiece and two draws in recent meetings. The match dynamic could shift with the first goal. If Athletic scores first, Osasuna is expected to take more risks. If the home side takes the lead, Athletic would likely increase their possession and pressure in the opponent's half.
Possible lineups suggest Unai Simón will continue in goal, with a defence that could feature Hugo Rincón, Dani Vivian, Aymeric Laporte, and Yuri. In midfield, Beñat Gerenabarrena and Peio Canales are solid options, while the Williams duo, Iñaki and Nico, will again be key in attack. The official starting eleven will be confirmed hours before kick-off.
Athletic approaches this clash as the favourite but knows nothing is given away in Pamplona. A win would allow them to dream of joining the European fight. Their next fixture on the league schedule will be another away challenge.
