Osasuna and Athletic Club square off at El Sadar this Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. The winners of the tie will face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the final.
In this in-depth Copa del Rey betting preview, we track down the Osasuna vs Athletic Club best bets and give you our soccer picks.
Osasuna vs. Athletic Club Matchup Information
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao
Location: El Sadar, Pamplona, Navarre.
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 3:00 PM ET.
How to Watch: ESPN+
Recent Scores
These two teams have already met in 2023. The pair locked horns at San Mames in January, with the game ending in a goalless draw. Bilbao were the better side, but Osasuna defended resolutely to leave with a point.
The last meeting at El Sadar went Athletic’s way back in January 2022.
Bilbao also won the reverse meeting last term in May. The Lions are undefeated in four against Rojillos, winning two and drawing two.
Osasuna vs. Athletic Club Analysis
Osasuna are going okay in La Liga right now, sitting in eighth spot after 23 games. They have won nine, lost eight and tied six. The battle for European places is hotting up in La Liga, and Jagoba Arrasate’s side are well and truly in the mix.
Osasuna recently went on a five-game winless streak in the league. However, after three draws and two defeats, Rojillos picked up a crucial three points last time out, seeing off Sevilla in a five-goal thriller, an own goal and David Garcia and Ez Abde efforts gave Osasuna a 3-2 victory in Seville.
This will be their sixth Copa del Rey matchup of the season. It all started back in November with a 4-1 away win at Fuentes. They then won at Arnedo, Gimnastic and Real Betis.
Osasuna booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought home win over Sevilla in January. The tie went to extra time after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. Abde hit the winner for Osasuna in the 99th minute.
Despite being the second favorites, Osasuna will back themselves to win this first leg on home turf. For the latest Osasuna odds and Osasuna vs Athletic Club best bets for today’s soccer matches, keep reading our Copa del Rey betting preview.
Athletic Club are just a point behind their guests in the current La Liga standings. They have picked up nine wins, suffered nine defeats and have drawn five of their 23 La Liga fixtures.
Athletic Bilbao’s Recent Struggles and Setbacks in La Liga
Like Osasuna, Bilbao have also struggled in recent months. They secured back-to-back wins over Cadiz and Valencia in early February, but those are their only league victories since returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup break.
After those wins, Athletic have gone on to suffer back-to-back losses in the league to Atletico Madrid and Girona. Last week’s home reverse to Girona was a real setback for Ernesto Valverde and his troops.
In spite of their league form, Athletic Bilbao have been excellent in the Copa del Rey this season. They have won all five cup fixtures in normal time, scoring 14 goals along the way. On their way to the quarter-finals, Valverde’s troops beat Alzira, Sestao, Eldense and Espanyol.
They were very impressive in the previous round, seeing off Valencia at the Mestalla. The match was level at the break, but the Red and Whites stepped it up a few notches in the second period and ran out deserved 3-1 winners. Iker Muniain, Nico Williams, and Vesga were on the scoresheet at the Mestalla.
Four of their five Copa del Rey wins have been away from home this season. They have been pretty solid on their travels this term, winning seven away games in all competitions.
Can they pick up a positive result from their trip to San Mames in midweek? With the second leg at home, even a draw in Navarre would be a decent outcome. Below you will find our Athletic Club picks.
Odds Breakdown
1×2 Odds
Osasuna: +210
Athletic Club: +150
Draw: +200
Asian Handicap Odds
Osasuna +0: +110
Athletic Club -0: -130
Over/Under Odds
Over 2.5 Goals: +150
Under 2.5 Goals: -200
Osasuna vs. Athletic Club Betting Pick and Prediction
Osasuna will be desperate to make home advantage count in this first leg. They are in poor form, so a positive result at San Mames is vital to their Copa del Rey final hopes. Defeat could be disastrous for the Navarre outfit.
Athletic Club have a good recent record in this fixture. They were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Osasuna in the league at the start of 2023, but we fancy Valverde’s boys to secure a crucial Copa del Rey first-leg win in Pamplona on Wednesday.
Looking at the Osasuna vs Athletic Club best bets, we are being drawn to the away win and both teams to score at the top odds of +550. We are also backing over 2.5 goals at +150.
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