Preview: Espanyol vs Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Espanyol will be aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 La Liga campaign when they welcome Osasuna to RCDE Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Catalan outfit have four points from their opening two matches to sit seventh in the La Liga table, while the visitors are 10th, picking up three points from their first two games of the season.

Match preview

Espanyol started their season with a glorious win, coming from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and they then followed that up with an impressive point in a 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad.

It has therefore been a very encouraging start to the season for the Catalan side, with four points leaving them seventh in the table, and they will now be looking to post their second win of the campaign.

Manolo Gonzalez's side finished 14th last term, so there is plenty of room for improvement this season, and they have been incredibly busy during this summer's transfer window, making a number of smart signings.

The club's biggest arrival of the summer, in terms of a transfer fee, has been Roberto Fernandez, with the 22-year-old joining after a successful loan spell from Braga in the second half of last season.

The White and Blues have struggled in their recent meetings with Osasuna, though, failing to pick up a victory in the last nine matches between the two teams in all competitions.

Osasuna are unbeaten in their last eight La Liga matches against Espanyol, recording four wins in the process, including a 2-0 victory when the pair last locked horns in May 2025.

That said, each of the last three La Liga meetings between the two teams at RCDE Stadium have finished all square, including a goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last term.

Osasuna opened their season with a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid, but they will have been pleased with their overall performance at Bernabeu, and Alessio Lisci's side then managed to record a 1-0 victory over Valencia.

Three points from two matches has left them in 10th spot in the table, and they finished ninth last term, so it would not be a surprise to see them in and around this spot for much of the campaign.

Los Rojillos have been incredibly quiet during the transfer window, making only two signings, with Victor Munoz arriving from Real Madrid, while Valentin Rosier has joined from Leganes.

Espanyol La Liga form:

Osasuna La Liga form:

Team News

Espanyol will be without the services of Javi Hernandez through injury, but the Catalan outfit are otherwise in strong shape, and there are not expected to be any surprises in their XI.

Indeed, Javi Puado is set to feature alongside Fernandez in the final third of the field, while there should again be a spot in a wide position for Tyrhys Dolan.

Omar El Hilali was one of the most impressive full-backs in La Liga last term, with the 21-year-old thought to be on Barcelona's radar, and he will again be in the starting side for the hosts.

As for Osasuna, Abel Bretones is out of the match through suspension, but the visitors have not reported any fitness concerns for the La Liga clash with Espanyol.

Due to the manner of their performance and indeed result against Valencia last time out, Osasuna could be unchanged here, with Munoz set to continue in a wide area.

Ante Budimir is already off the mark for the new campaign, while an excellent 2024-25 campaign for the 34-year-old saw him find the back of the net on 21 occasions in Spain's top flight.

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Cabrera, Rubio, Romero; Dolan, Lozano, Exposito, Milla; Puado, Fernandez

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Catena, Boyomo, Cruz; Rosier, Torro, Gomez, Moncayola; Oroz, Budimir, Munoz

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Osasuna

This is a tricky match to call, as cases can be made for both to win it, but Espanyol have shown some excellent signs this season, while Osasuna are tough to break down, so we can see a low-scoring draw here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.