Three talking points ahead of Osasuna vs Real Madrid | La Liga GW 24 | OneFootball

Real Madrid were the only Spanish elite club to play in the UEFA Champions League playoff stage earlier this week after Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both qualified directly in the top 8.

Despite their competitors having the entire week off, it is ironically Carlo Ancelotti’s side whose weekend league fixture kicks off first and it is clear that the calendar does not favour the leaders.

Tomorrow afternoon, the Merengues lock horns with Osasuna at El Sadar in a game whose result may have direct repercussions on their place in the standings, and it is clear that only a win is acceptable.

When the two teams met earlier this season, Los Blancos put four goals past the Pamplona-based side with Vinicius Jr. scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham putting the cherry on the cake. The goal tomorrow will be to equal, if not better that result.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Osasuna vs Real Madrid.

Momentum needed in La Liga

Real Madrid were coasting in La Liga and had the title race in their grasp, but it did not take long for them to lose the steam.

In just two matchdays, Carlo Ancelotti’s men cheaply gave away the lead they had carefully constructed over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and the title race is now more open than ever.

A defeat to Espanyol followed by a draw against Atletico Madrid at home now has Los Blancos just one point ahead of their local rivals and two ahead of Barcelona.

Having dropped four of their last six points, the men in white are in urgent need of momentum in the league and cannot afford to slip up any further.

With the game taking place at El Sadar, it is easier said than done for Real Madrid to take three points. They have a good record at the venue, but Osasuna have beaten even Barcelona at home this season and the Merengues must look to be at their best.

Rotations, but with care

Rotations on the cards? (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Real Madrid are entering tomorrow’s game fresh off a stunning win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos, after all, were 2-1 down on the night but pulled off two goals in the final ten minutes to win 3-2 and take a lead on aggregate.

The second leg will be held next week at the Santiago Bernabeu and it is inevitable that the player and the management maintain one eye on the big game against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Ancelotti will thus look to rotate his squad at the weekend, especially with players who have had incessant minutes and are bonafide starters. Concurrently, however, he must maintain caution so as to not over-rotate.

One can thus expect the likes of Luka Modric, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, and possibly Endrick to have prominence against Osasuna.

As part of the same equation, the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe could be given a rest from the starting XI, but it will be on the coach’s mind to ensure a healthy mix of starters and substitutes stay on the field at all times.

One final defensive challenge

Ancelotti was forced into a serious dilemma earlier this month after his star defenders David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger picked up muscle injuries within days of each other.

Both players were ruled out of action for two to three weeks, and Lucas Vazquez soon joined them on the sidelines with a muscular setback.

All three players were unavailable in the first leg against the reigning Premier League champions and the coach thus fielded a combination of Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio at centre-back with Federico Valverde filling in at right-back.

The trio is expected to be fit for the reverse fixture, but tomorrow’s game will once again see the leaders without all three defensive stars.

For one final time this month, Asencio, Tchouameni, and Valverde must thus hold the fort at the back. They did a fine job midweek and will look to keep their combination working to give their side three points tomorrow.

A big part of how the game plays out, thus, depends on their performances and how solid they can remain defensively. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible, and Real Madrid are just 90 minutes away from defensive freedom.