Osasuna vs Espanyol Betting Tips 12/09

The attacking threat of Ante Budimir

Despite the recent defensive setbacks, the form of Ante Budimir remains a significant bright spot for the home side. The forward has been clinical, netting five goals across his last five appearances. His ability to lead the line will be pivotal as Osasuna look to exploit any gaps in the Espanyol backline and dictate the tempo of the game.

Espanyol searching for a breakthrough

Espanyol make the trip looking to build on a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Sevilla in their last outing. While they have struggled to find consistent results in the early stages of the season, the creativity of Javi Hernandez has provided a consistent spark. Having been involved in four goals across his recent appearances, Hernandez will be the man tasked with unlocking the Osasuna defence.

Team news and expected lineups

Osasuna face this tie without the services of Jorge Herrando and Aimar Oroz, both of whom are currently sidelined with injuries. The expected XI for the hosts features Sergio Herrera in goal, supported by a back four of Abel Bretones, Alejandro Catena, Flavien Boyomo, and Inigo Arguibide. The midfield is expected to comprise Moi Gomez, Ruben Garcia, Iker Munoz, and Jon Moncayola, with Ante Budimir and Raul Garcia leading the attack.

For the visitors, the expected XI includes Marko Dmitrovic in goal behind a defensive unit of Roger Hinojo, Leandro Cabrera, Unai Nunez, and Omar El Hilali. The midfield engine room is expected to feature Gabriel Moscardo, Alex Calatrava, Edu Exposito, Tyrhys Dolan, and Javi Hernandez, with Roberto Fernandez expected to spearhead the attack.

A history of competitive encounters

Matches between these two sides have frequently been tight affairs, with the most recent meeting on 17 May 2026 ending in a 2-1 victory for Espanyol. Looking further back, the fixture has often been defined by fine margins, including a 0-0 draw in December 2024 and a 1-1 stalemate in February 2023. Both teams will be acutely aware that in a contest this evenly matched, the side that manages the critical moments best will likely emerge with the points.