Preview:Osasuna vs. Getafe - prediction, team news, lineups

Getafe will aim to boost their cushion over the bottom three in the La Liga table on Wednesday, when they take on Osasuna away from home.

An upturn in form has seen the Azulones move five points clear of the relegation zone with just three matches to go, meaning a victory could confirm their survival depending on other results.

Match preview

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Osasuna have enjoyed an impressive season in La Liga this time around, as they seemingly established themselves in the top half and firmly in the race for eighth place as back-to-back wins took them onto 44 points from 32 outings.

Their form has since taken a dip, though, as those victories have been followed by a three-game winless run, with Jagoba Arrasate's side firstly falling short against Real Madrid.

They then travelled to Elche and were forced to settle for a point as Ante Budimir's opening goal was cancelled out by a Pere Milla equaliser in the final 10 minutes, before again drawing 1-1 last time out.

Los Rojillos travelled to Espanyol, and, after taking the lead on the stroke of half time through Kike Barja, they were pegged back by Nico Melamed's 67th-minute goal, remaining six points behind eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao as a result.

With just three games left to bridge that gap, a top-eight finish now looks highly unlikely, but Arrasate's men will still aim to cement their place in the top half, starting with a return to winning ways on Wednesday.

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They welcome a Getafe side who are looking to all but confirm their survival again this season, having hugely improved their position in recent weeks.

With 32 points from 32 outings, the Azulones were certainly embroiled in the fight at the bottom of the division, but they were able to gain an edge as Borja Mayoral hit a brace to fire them to a 2-0 victory away at Celta Vigo.

They followed that up with a commendable goalless draw against fifth-placed Real Betis, before playing out another stalemate with Rayo Vallecano last time out.

Thanks to their improvements, Quique Sanchez Flores's side have quickly climbed to 14th spot in the Spanish top flight, and, with a five-point lead over Mallorca after 35 games, a victory on Wednesday could confirm their survival if other results go their way.

Team News

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Regular midfielder Lucas Torro was dropped to the bench for Osasuna's trip to Espanyol last time out, and he is expected to rejoin Darko Brasanac and Jon Moncayola in the engine room on Wednesday.

Important winger Ezequiel Avila is also in line for a return to the starting XI after he was reduced to a substitute appearance.

Their line will be led by Ante Budimir, who found the net in six consecutive league matches prior to that game at the weekend.

Getafe have an attacking star of their own, with striker Enes Unal having hit 15 goals in La Liga so far this season.

He should be rejoined by Borja Mayoral, who has found the net six times since a January loan move from Roma, including a decisive brace in their win away at Celta Vigo.

Midfielder Okay Yokuslu kept his place in the back three last time out, with centre-back Stefan Mitrovic not involved in the squad, and the Turkish international could again feature alongside Jorge Cuenca and Djene Dakonam after seeing out a clean sheet.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, Hernandez, Garcia, Cruz; Brasanac, Torro, Moncayola; Barja, Budimir, Avila

Getafe possible starting lineup:

Soria; Djene, Cuenca, Yokuslu; Suarez, Rodriguez, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Olivera; Unal, Mayoral

We say: Osasuna 2-1 Getafe

The two teams both possess plenty of quality and the potency to hurt one another, but we just lean towards a home victory.

We would not be surprised to see Budimir and Unal both get on the scoresheet for their respective sides and just give the edge to Arrasate's men with home advantage and the need for a win in their bid for a top-half finish.