Osasuna will welcome Barcelona to Stadio El Sador in the La Liga matchday 17 on Sunday. The kick-off is at 17:15 CEST.

Preview

One don't usually expect to see Barcelona sitting in seventh in the table at this stage of the season but that's where the Catalans have found themselves following last weekend's home defeat at the hands of Real Betis (1-0). What's more, Xavi's men were thrashed 3-0 by Bayern Munich in the final Champions League group-stage matchday on Wednesday to finish in the third place and thus continue in the Europa League knock-out stages next year.

While Barca have claimed 23 points in the 2021/22 Spanish top flight so far, Osasuna are only two points behind their forthcoming opponents, sitting in the 10th spot. Nevertheless, Jagoba Arrasate's side are on a seven-game winless streak in the league ahead of the Blaugrana's visit to El Sador, inluding a goalless stalemate at Levante last week.

Team news

Jesus Areso and Juan Perez will play no part for the hosts in this one due to respective injury woes. The visitors, in turn, will again be without the services of Sergi Roberto, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri, Ansu Fati and Sergio Aguero who remain on the sidelines while Jordi Alba and Memphis Depay are yet to be given the green light to feature after picking up minor injuries against Bayern.

Prediction

Xavi definitely needs a reaction from his side in this one if he wants to last longer in the Camp Nou dugout than his predecessor Ronald Koeman. However, Osasuna are more than capable to cause major problems to the Catalans, given the latter's lengthy list of injury absentees. Still, we'd rather back Barca to return to winning ways in Pamplona as Arrasate's crop haven't been at their best for too long lately.

Tip

Barcelona to win at 2.03 with 1XBET.