Real Madrid have a must-win home fixture against Osasuna on Saturday afternoon, with the reigning Spanish and European champions looking to bounce back from successive losses at Bernabeu to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Los Blancos are second in the La Liga table, nine points behind leaders Barcelona, who have played a game more, and they will be welcoming an Osasuna outfit that are up in fifth, boasting 21 points from their first 12 matches of the campaign.
Match preview
It is barely five months since Real Madrid sealed a fine Champions League victory in addition to their La Liga title for the 2023-24 season, but because of massive demands at the Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial future has been called into doubt.
Any defeat for Los Blancos is aching, but the capital giants were thumped 4-0 at home by Barcelona in La Liga on October 26, before being defeated 3-1 at Bernabeu by Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Down in 18th spot in the Champions League table, Los Blancos will still be confident of progression, with the loss to Barcelona certainly more damaging in terms of confidence and their position in La Liga.
Real Madrid were supposed to play Valencia in the league last weekend, but it was postponed because of the floods in Spain, and Barcelona’s victory over Espanyol gave the Catalan side the perfect chance to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
In other words, Real Madrid simply need to win this weekend, as another poor result ahead of the November international break will send the club into full-blown crisis mode, and that might end any chances of a La Liga title, even at this stage of the season, should Barcelona continue their excellent form with a win over Real Sociedad.
Kylian Mbappe is reportedly unhappy with his role through the middle, with the 25-year-old yet to find his best form in a Real Madrid shirt, but Ancelotti will be hoping that the Frenchman can hit top gear this weekend.
Osasuna’s Bryan Zaragoza on September 21, 2024
Osasuna have not actually beaten Real Madrid in any competition since January 2011, while they have not managed to overcome the capital giants at Bernabeu in La Liga since a famous 3-0 success in April 2004.
However, the Pamplona outfit have held Real Madrid to draws on two of their last three trips to Bernabeu and come into this match in fine fettle, on the back of three successive victories, two of which have been in La Liga.
Vicente Moreno’s side have won their last two in the league – against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid – both without conceding, while they progressed in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night with a 5-0 success over Chiclana.
Osasuna have recorded six wins and three draws against three defeats from their 12 league matches this season as they sit fifth in the table, only three points behind Real Madrid-who have a game in hand.
Los Rojillos are also the only team to have beaten Barcelona in the league this season and will now be eyeing a famous result at Bernabeu against a Real Madrid side that have been unable to find their rhythm in the early months of the 2024-25 campaign.
Real Madrid La Liga form:
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Real Madrid form (all competitions):
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Osasuna La Liga form:
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Osasuna form (all competitions):
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Team News
Real Madrid have a fresh injury blow ahead of this match, with Aurelien Tchouameni ruled out, likely for the next month, with the ankle injury that he suffered against Milan on Tuesday night.
Tchouameni has joined Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba on the sidelines for the Spanish champions.
Federico Valverde was withdrawn against Milan due to a back issue, although the Uruguay international is expected to be fit for selection here and should therefore start in central midfield.
Rodrygo might also be brought back into the XI, having appeared off the bench last time out, while Eduardo Camavinga is the man who could profit from Tchouameni’s absence this weekend.
As for Osasuna, head coach Moreno could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Valladolid, with Ante Budimir set to continue through the middle.
Budimir hit 17 in La Liga last season and is on six for the 2024-25 campaign, and the experienced striker is expected to be joined by Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Pena in the final third of the field.
A goal apiece against Chiclana in the Copa del Rey last time out for Raul Garcia, but that’s unlikely to be enough to see him earn a spot in the side.
Currently, Osasuna have a clean bill of health, with no fresh problems reported this week, meaning that head coach Moreno will be able to name his preferred XI for what is shaping up to be a very interesting match.
possible starting lineups
Real Madrid
Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Cruz; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; Pena, Budimir, Zaragoza
Osasuna will feel that they can come away with a positive result against an out-of-form Real Madrid, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see a share of the spoils in the Spanish capital on Saturday. We feel, though, that Los Blancos will just do enough to secure a vital three points ahead of the November international break.
