Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

On the search for a fourth consecutive La Liga win, Osasuna travel to take on Celta Vigo on Sunday.

A strong run has seen the visitors move up to ninth spot in the La Liga table, just two points behind eighth-placed Granada, while their hosts will hope to put an end to a three-game winless run in the Spanish top flight.

Match preview

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Celta Vigo suffered a disappointing defeat last time out, as they fell to a 2-1 away loss at the hands of Real Sociedad.

Los Celestes took the lead through Hugo Mallo, but Portu quickly equalised for the hosts, before Adnan Januzaj netted the winning goal from the penalty spot to send Eduardo Coudet's men home empty-handed.

That stretched their winless run to three games, having previously lost 4-3 to Sevilla, followed by a goalless draw with strugglers Cadiz.

As a result, Coudet's side have dropped into the bottom half of the La Liga table, now sitting on 38 points, level with 10th-placed Athletic Bilbao and 11th-placed Levante.

That means that Celta Vigo could quickly rise back up the table if they can return to winning ways and put together a strong run to finish the campaign.

That will definitely not be easy though, as they welcome an Osasuna side who have broken into the top 10 thanks to a three-game winning run.

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Jagoba Arrasate's side recorded a third consecutive league victory last time out, when they hosted Valencia.

Javi Martinez opened the scoring for Osasuna, but Kevin Gameiro equalised for the visitors before goals from Jonathan Calleri and Roberto Torres sealed all three points for the hosts.

That stretched their winning run to three games, having previously defeated Villarreal 2-1 away from home and Elche 2-0 at the Estadio El Sadar.

As a result of their upturn in form, Arrasate's men now sit in ninth spot, just two points behind eighth-placed Granada.

That means a win on Sunday could see Los Rojillos break into the top eight of the Spanish top flight, and they will be hopeful of stretching their winning run to four games to achieve that.

Team News

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Celta Vigo will remain without forward Emre Mor, while goalkeepers Ruben Blanco and Sergio Alvarez are also out of contention.

In their absence, Ivan Villar has featured in goal for Los Celestes, and he will keep his spot on Sunday.

Iago Aspas will lead the line having been the key man for the hosts this season, registering 12 goals and 10 assists in 28 La Liga appearances.

Santi Mina is expected to keep his place alongside Aspas in the front two.

Osasuna will be without goalkeeper Ruben Martinez, while Juan Cruz and Inigo Perez are also expected to continue their spells out through injury.

They recently welcomed attacker Chimy Avila back to action after a spell out with injury, as he came off the bench, and he could be fit to feature from the start on Sunday.

He could come into the forward line alongside Ante Budimir, who has netted seven goals in the top flight so far this campaign.

Budimir will have to battle for his own place though, as forwards Roberto Torres and Jonathan Calleri both started got on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Valencia, while the Serbian was reduced to a substitute appearance.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Mallo, Araujo, Murillo, Martin; Tapia; Mendez, Suarez, Nolito; Aspas, Mina

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, Garcia, Hernandez, Sanchez; Torres, Torro, Martinez, Avila; Budimir, Calleri

We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Osasuna

The visitors have definitely built some confidence with a three-game winning run, and we see them extending that on Sunday with a victory over a struggling Celta Vigo outfit.

The collection of attacking talent should fire them to another impressive win, even if Aspas keeps his side in the game with a goal.