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Osasuna vs Real Madrid match preview
Real Madrid return to the pressure of the Spanish title race on Saturday when they visit an Osasuna side who have only lost two of their 12 home La Liga games this season.
Anything other than victory will give second-placed Atletico Madrid the chance to guarantee top spot at the end of the weekend if they beat 12th-placed Celta Vigo at home later on Saturday.
Atleti are a point behind the reigning champions, with Barcelona, who host sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano on Monday, a point further back.
Madrid enjoyed a victory as impressive as it was dramatic in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday, recovering from 2-1 behind in the 85th minute to beat Manchester City 3-2 at Etihad Stadium.
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England attacker Jude Bellingham made a memorable return to his homeland, scoring the 92nd-minute winner to put his side in command of the tie.
The result was their fifth win in their last six away games, with only a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol on February 1 spoiling that record.
Osasuna vs Madrid team news
Real Madrid’s defensive absentees were well documented before they visited City, with David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez all out.
“They’re improving,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said of Alaba and Rudiger. “They’re going to keep working individually until Monday.
“Starting Tuesday, they’ll be back with the team and available for the [return home] game [against] City [on Wednesday], and the same goes for Lucas Vazquez.”
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Federico Valverde – usually a midfielder – will continue at full-back until Vazquez returns. “[He] offers us a great deal in that position, as he does anywhere else,” said Ancelotti. “I really liked how he played against City and he enjoys that position.”
Enzo Boyomo scored Osasuna’s 94th-minute equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Mallorca in La Liga on Monday, but the centre-back’s fifth yellow card of the campaign means he is suspended against Madrid.
Forward Raul Garcia, who had featured in 21 of Osasuna’s previous 22 league games this season, is a doubt after missing the trip to Mallorca through injury.
“It couldn’t be more exciting,” said Osasuna manager Vicente Moreno. “We’re talking about a top-level match in every way. I understand this is one of those games you mark on the calendar for our fans because of everything it represents and its impact.
“We will enjoy it while being fully aware that it will be a difficult match. I don’t know if I should say [Madrid are] the best team in the world or one of the best — not because I say so, but because of what they achieve year after year. That makes it a tough challenge, and we need to play this game together.”
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Osasuna vs Real Madrid expected lineups
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Fede Valverde, Raul Asencio, Tchouameni, Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Modric, Bellingham, Brahim Diaz, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Osasuna starting XI: Sergio Herrera, Jesus Areso, Unai Garcia, Alejandro Catena, Juan Cruz, Lucas Torro, Moi Gomez, Jon Moncayola, Aimar Oroz, Bryan Zaragoza, Budimir
How to watch Osasuna vs Madrid: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off is at 15:15 UK time on Saturday, with live coverage on LaLigaTV and Premier Player.
Various subscription packages are available. Via streaming and apps, Premier Player costs £15.99 a month, £10.99 a month annually, £120 a year upfront or £7.99 a month for LaLigaTV only.
Stats
- In 9 of the last 10 Osasuna matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 7 Osasuna matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 8 of the last 10 Osasuna home matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 8 of the last 10 Osasuna home matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 4 of the last 5 Osasuna matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In 15 of the last 17 Real Madrid matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 11 of the last 13 Real Madrid away matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 11 of the last 12 Real Madrid away matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Real Madrid have won 6 of the last 8 matches while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- In 7 of the last 8 Real Madrid away matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was over 2.5
Prediction
PredictionMoreno says Osasuna must hope Madrid “don’t have their best day”, which is not inconceivable given the proximity of this game to their decider against City for a place in the Champions League round of 16.
“It’s also up to us to make sure they don’t, even though we know it won’t be easy,” he added, having overseen a promising 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in his side’s last home match.
The Reds beat Barca 4-2 at home as part of a run of four home matches earlier in the season, but their status as considerable underdogs will be justified if they perform as they did in their 4-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 9, when they failed to produce a shot on target and were the victims of a Vinicius Junior hat-trick, as well as a goal from Bellingham.
Madrid should have enough to secure a hat-trick of away wins in 10 days, and a 3-1 victory looks feasible to give them a double over Osasuna.
