La Liga Matchday 3 Showdown: Espanyol Hosts Osasuna, Can They Maintain Unbeaten Start?
La Liga's third matchday sees an intriguing clash as in-form Espanyol host Osasuna at the RCDE Stadium. Espanyol aims to extend their unbeaten start to the season, while Osasuna looks to improve their away form. This fixture is crucial for both teams to consolidate their early league positions, with Osasuna holding a historically strong head-to-head record against Espanyol, who have shown renewed vigor this season.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This match marks the third round of the 2025-26 Spanish Primera División (La Liga EA Sports) season. Last season, Espanyol narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 14th, while Osasuna enjoyed a strong campaign, ending in 9th place and just missing out on European qualification. [19, 26, 44] Espanyol has started the new season surprisingly well, remaining unbeaten in their opening two league matches with four points, placing them seventh in the standings. [19, 22, 31, 37] They secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in their opener and followed it with a 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad, showcasing their resilience. [19, 31, 37] Osasuna, on the other hand, has had a mixed start, collecting three points from two matches and sitting tenth in the table. [19, 22, 43] They suffered a 0-1 away defeat to Real Madrid but rebounded with a 1-0 home win against Valencia. [19, 31, 37] Historically, Osasuna has held an advantage over Espanyol, being unbeaten in their last nine head-to-head encounters with five wins and four draws, with most of these matches being low-scoring affairs. [26, 46]
Recent Form
Espanyol has shown strong form in their two La Liga matches this season, recording one win and one draw, remaining unbeaten. In addition to their league performance, they also had an encouraging pre-season, going unbeaten in six friendlies with four wins and two draws. [17, 19, 22, 26, 31, 37] Osasuna has registered one win and one loss in their two league outings this season. Their pre-season form was less convincing, with only one win, two draws, and three losses in six friendlies. [17, 19, 26, 31, 37] Overall, Espanyol appears to be in more stable and convincing form recently.
Key Players & Injury News
Key players for Espanyol include center-back Miguel Rubio, currently identified as the team's best player and top scorer. [16] Midfield maestro Edu Expósito is rated as their best midfielder. [16] Forwards like Pere Milla and Javi Puado are also crucial contributors. New signings such as Tyrhys Dolan add pace and width, while Roberto Fernández, after a successful loan spell, has joined permanently to bolster the attack. [19, 21, 34, 37, 38] In terms of injuries, Espanyol will be without Javi Hernández. [19, 37, 39] However, the team is otherwise in strong shape with no other significant fresh injury concerns. [19, 37] For Osasuna, their attack is spearheaded by veteran Ante Budimir, who has already found the net this season. [19, 43] Defensively, Alejandro Catena is a standout, while Valentin Rosier is a key figure in midfield, providing assists. [15, 24] Osasuna will miss Abel Bretones due to suspension following a red card. [19, 37] However, Iker Benito (ankle) and Moi Gómez (hamstring), who had been sidelined, are now fit and available for selection, providing a boost to the squad. [18, 28]