La Liga 2025-2026: Osasuna-Elche, the probable formations
In the first of two La Liga matches scheduled for Thursday, Osasuna faces one of the surprises of this early season in Spain, Elche still unbeaten after five days in the league and fresh from Sunday’s success against Real Oviedo (1-0). The hosts are aiming, in particular, to redeem Saturday’s knockout at home to Villarreal (2-1) to move up in the standings.
The Navarre club, led by Italy’s Alessio Lisci (who curiously coached in Italy only at the Giovanissimi and Esordienti levels, at Lazio, before moving to Spain on a permanent basis), will take the field, in all likelihood, with a lineup with an offensive imprint, a 3-4-3 in which Ruben Garcia, Ante Budimir and Victor Muñoz make up the attacking trident.
The Navarre club will be in the field, in all likelihood, with a 3-4-3 in which Ruben Garcia, Ante Budimir and Victor Muñoz make up the attacking trident.
More shrewd, at least on paper, is Elche coach Eder Sarabia’s 3-5-2, which features Josan and German Valera on the flanks, footballers capable of both pushing and dropping back to give the defense a helping hand. In attack, Rafa Mir and l’ex-Milanista André Silva, match winner in the match against Real Oviedo and author of a goal also in the previous match, which ended 2-2 against Sevilla.
Probable lineups
OSASUNA (3-4-3): Herrera; Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Bretones, Torro, Iker Muñoz, Moncayola; Garcia, Budimir, Victor Muñoz. All. Lisci.
ELCHE (3-5-2): Pena; Nuñez, Affengruber, Bigas; Josan, Febas, Mendoza, Valera; Diangana; Mir, André Silva. All. Sarabia.
