Valencia C. F. - Osasuna: Corberán returns to Mestalla as relegation fight tightens
valencia c. f. - osasuna opens at Mestalla this Sunday at 16: 15 (hora peninsular española), a fixture that doubles as a test for Carlos Corberán after boos in his previous visit and a chance for Valencia to breathe in a season in which the club sits two points above the relegation zone.
La mascletá de Mestalla
The city will stage its daily Mascletá at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento through March 19 at 2: 00 p. m., but the louder fireworks are expected on the pitch: Corberán returns to Mestalla, where fans demanded his resignation in the last match, and faces an Osasuna side riding strong form—one defeat in the last nine league matches and an unbeaten streak of six matches that includes a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid.
Valencia C. F. - Osasuna: lineups and absences
Valencia will start with Dimitrievski in goal and a back line of Gayà, Cömert, Unai Núñez and Thierry Correia, with Luis Rioja, Ugrinic and Guido Rodríguez in midfield and Ramazani, Umar Sadiq and Javi Guerra up front. Osasuna’s confirmed eleven lists Sergio Herrera; Javi Galán, Herrando, Catena and Rosier; Lucas Torró, Moncayola; Raúl Moro, Rubén García, Víctor Muñoz; and Ante Budimir leading the attack.
Valencia must cope without Lucas Beltrán and José Copete—Beltrán remains sidelined with muscle problems and Copete is out long-term with a meniscal injury—while Diakhaby and Foulquier also occupy the medical list. Diego López returns to the squad after missing the derby at La Cerámica.
Vitamina Mestalla para aflojar la soga del descenso
The match arrives as a potential lifeline: Valencia has 26 points after 25 jornadas, a total that places the season among the club’s poorest starts this century and has shifted fan frustration toward the coach. The club’s hierarchy has publicly backed Corberán, who is under contract until 2027, and the club reinforced heavily in January—signing 12 players this season and spending 16. 5 million euros—to give him resources for the survival fight.
Osasuna pose a concrete threat. Ante Budimir has scored six goals in his last five matches, and the rojillos’ recent run—six games unbeaten with two draws and four wins in that span—has them comfortably placed above the lower half and within striking distance of European positions in the table.
With the starting XIs named and clear tactical choices to make—Valencia weighing options in the attacking link with Beltrán absent and Corberán considering a midfield reinforcement or a double nine—the outcome here will shape immediate fortunes: a win would give Valencia breathing room in the relegation fight; a loss would deepen pressure on the coach and crowd alike.
The next confirmed fixture on Valencia’s short-term calendar is another home game at Mestalla against Alavés, making this match the first of two crucial home games that the club’s leadership has framed as pivotal for the season.
