Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Osasuna and Girona square off against each other at Estadio El Sadar in the opening match of Saturday’s program. Los Rojillos have been having their ups and downs of late, with the team beating both Alaves and Granada, while losing to Real Madrid and Real Betis and they face a difficult task against the high-flying Catalans. Experienced forward Ruben Garcia could sneak into the starting XI after scoring as a substitute in the last league match, while defender Juan Cruz has yet to overcome a muscle injury.
The visitors, on the other hand, are on a three-game winning run in the Spanish top flight, but beating Osasuna in Pamplona is easier said than done. Taking everything into account, we believe that punters from all four corners of the world can find value in betting on draw. Girona’s injury list is pretty long, including the likes of David Lopez, Eric Garcia, Valery Fernandez, Juan Carlos, Joel Roca Casals, Ricard Artero, and Toni Villa.
Highlighted Player (Chimy Ávila):
Popularly known as "Chimy," Ezequiel Avila 's youth career was spent playing football in Argentina at Tiro Federal. An Argentinian himself, the Rosario native signed his first professional contract with Federal in 2010 and made his debut appearance in the same year, featuring in a 2-0 away loss to Almirante Brown on the 16th of October.
Chimy then spent an additional five years at the club, making just 13 appearances before joining San Lorenzo on a free transfer. His Lorenzo spell generated his first professional goal, which came on the 20th of April, 2016, in a Copa Libertadores game against LDO Quito. In 2017, he left Lorenzo to join Spanish outfit SD Huesca on a two-year loan deal. This move marked Chimy's first time playing club football outside Argentina.
At Huesca, the winger scored 17 goals in 70 appearances. At the end of the loan period in 2019, Chimy returned to Lorenzo, who, in turn, sold him to LaLiga side CA Osasuna on a transfer worth 5 million euros. Born on the 6th of February, 1994, the 25-year-old is currently on a four-year contract with Los Rojillos.
Highlighted Team (Girona):
After several unsuccessful attempts, finally secured promotion to Primera Division at the end of the 2016/2017 season. The Catalan outfit finished the campaign in second place in the standings, 14 points behind Levante and only two clear of third-placed Getafe. Girona play their home games at Montilivi and the capacity of the venue is 9.286.
Speaking of the club history, Girona were founded in the café Norat in La Rambla of Girona on July 23, 1930 and they played their first official game against Colonia Artigas. A number of Spanish coaches were in charge of the team in the past, but it has to be noted that Uruguayan tactician Dagoberto Moll (1965/1966) and Karoly Plattko (1948/1949) of Hungary were in charge of the club as well.
The Catalan team wear white shirts with red stripes when playing at home, while the colour of their shorts is blue. The team’s away kits are blue and black and Sporting Gijon are considered one of Girona’s fiercest rivals.