Real Madrid Vs Osasuna

Real Madrid will face a crucial La Liga showdown on Saturday afternoon when they host Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu. This clash follows two consecutive and painful home losses for Real Madrid: a 4-0 La Liga defeat by Barcelona and a 3-1 setback in the Champions League against AC Milan.

Currently, Real Madrid are second in the La Liga standings with 23 points, trailing leaders Barcelona by nine points, though Barcelona has played one more match. Osasuna, sitting in fifth place with 21 points from 12 matches, has positioned itself as a formidable opponent.

It’s been less than five months since Real Madrid lifted the Champions League trophy, having triumphed in both La Liga and Europe during the 2023-2024 season. Yet, high expectations at the Bernabeu have raised questions around head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s future, especially as the team faces intensified pressure to keep up with Barcelona.

While Real Madrid’s recent defeats were significant, the loss to Barcelona was especially damaging to their morale and league standings. Los Blancos now sit 18th in their Champions League group but are expected to progress in the tournament. The league loss, however, created a sizeable gap between Real Madrid and Barcelona, further compounded by a rescheduled league fixture against Valencia due to severe flooding in Spain. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s win over Espanyol widened their lead at the top of La Liga.

With the November international break looming, Real Madrid needs a positive result to prevent the crisis from deepening. Another poor outcome could endanger their La Liga title hopes, especially if Barcelona continues their winning streak with a potential victory over Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has reportedly struggled to find his top form in midfield, which has led to some frustration. However, Ancelotti remains optimistic that the French forward will reach his best in this weekend’s game.

Osasuna faces an uphill battle, having not defeated Real Madrid in any competition since January 2011. Their last La Liga victory at the Bernabeu was a historic 3-0 win back in April 2004. Nevertheless, the Pamplona-based team arrives in solid form, with three consecutive victories, two of which came in La Liga, and they managed to hold Real Madrid to a draw in two of their last three Bernabeu visits.

Under head coach Vicente Moreno, Osasuna has made strides this season. They progressed in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night with a commanding 5-0 victory over Chiclana and recently secured league wins against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid without conceding. With six wins, three draws, and three losses this season, Osasuna is just three points behind Real Madrid, who still have one game in hand.

Osasuna’s record includes a rare triumph over Barcelona this season, making them the only La Liga team to defeat the Catalans. They will now set their sights on a monumental win at the Bernabeu against a Real Madrid squad that has struggled to find consistency in the early months of the 2024-25 season.

Ahead of this weekend’s match, Real Madrid faces injury setbacks. Aurelien Tchouameni sustained an ankle injury against Milan, sidelining him for at least a month, joining David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois, and Dani Carvajal, who are also out due to injuries. On a brighter note, Rodrygo, who came off the bench in the previous match, is expected to start, and Eduardo Camavinga could step up in Tchouameni’s absence.

Moreno, Osasuna’s head coach, may retain the starting lineup that defeated Real Valladolid. Ante Budimir, expected to anchor the midfield, will likely be joined in attack by Ruben Pena and Bryan Zaragoza. Budimir, who scored 17 goals in last season’s La Liga and currently has six this season, remains a key figure in Osasuna’s offense.

This matchup is a pivotal moment for both teams. Real Madrid’s title ambitions could hinge on their ability to bounce back from recent setbacks, while Osasuna looks to continue its strong start to the season and potentially claim a historic victory at the Bernabeu.