Hello and welcome to our match preview and live coverage of Espanyol vs Osasuna in week 24 of the 2016/17 LaLiga Santander season, to be played at the RCDE Stadium at 12:00 CET on Sunday 26 February 2017.
Espanyol vs Osasuna: LaLiga week 24 preview
Sunday's lunchtime kick-off sees a clash between two sides with somewhat differing concerns. Espanyol sit in mid-table with 32 points and host Osasuna aiming to push themselves back into contention for the European places.
Their opponents from Navarre, meanwhile, are in a battle to salvage any hope of avoiding relegation, with Leganés' 4-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday leaving them nine points adrift of safety.
Espanyol
Following a run of good results, Quique Sánchez Flores' men have slumped to two straight defeats, and will look to return to winning ways against LaLiga's basement boys, who they saw off 2-1 in their first league encounter of the season.
Pape Diop is ruled out by suspension, while Rubén Duarte and Salva Sevilla have been left out of the Espanyol squad, with Marc Navarro, Javi López and Óscar Melendo returning.
Player to watch: Gerard Moreno. The striker has bagged a personal-best eight Primera División goals this term, and still has plenty of games left in which to extend that total.
Osasuna
Time is starting to run out for Peter Vasiljevic's side, who have only one win from 23 attempts in this season's Spanish top flight and sit on just 10 points.
After putting together a few draws, a sequence of three straight defeats has put the brakes on Los Rojillos, who must pick up points - and fast.
Osasuna will be without Miguel Flaño, Javi Flaño, Fausto Tienza, Tano Bonnin and Nauzet Pérez.
Player to watch: Sergio León. Without doubt Osasuna's best player. He has scored seven league goals this campaign, and is his team's chief attacking threat.
