Osasuna vs Real Madrid: Match preview | OneFootball

Just three days after their maiden win at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, Real Madrid are on the road once again as they take on Osasuna at El Sadar on matchday 24 of La Liga. The Whites will look to pick up all three points and continue leading the Spanish top flight having gone winless in their previous two games in the competition.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost to Espanyol a couple of weeks ago and was held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in last week’s derby but will hope to beat the ninth-ranked team in the league. Last time these two sides met, Los Blancos won comfortably at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 4-0 result, thanks to Vinicius Junior’s hat-trick and Jude Bellingham’s goal.

For this match, Ancelotti will be without Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez, all of whom are expected to be back for the return leg against Manchester City, however. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao continue to be on the sidelines due to ACL injuries and will not be available any time soon. Los Merengues have no suspensions in their camp for the outing.

Osasuna, on the other hand, come into the fixture having gone winless in four of their previous five clashes in all competitions. The hosts have not kept a clean sheet in either of those games either, so Real Madrid will comfortably be as the favourites heading into the clash. They have also failed to beat the defending league champions in 22 attempts, with their last victory dating back to 2011.

The hosts will be without Enzo Boyomo for the game as he is suspended but are not expected to have any injury absentees. Ante Budimir is their top goal-scorer in La Liga this season with 12 strikes to his name and will undoubtedly be Osasuna’s danger man. Real Madrid already know Budimir well having played against him and conceded a couple of times to him in the past during his Mallorca days.

Los Blancos’ superior record against this evening’s hosts coupled with their upcoming second leg against City at the Bernabeu could mean their starting eleven is slightly rotated at El Sadar. While there is little room to change things up at the back, there may be changes in midfield as well as in the final third as Ancelotti hopes to have his best players fresh for next week’s all-important game.

A win for Real Madrid could send them four points clear off Atletico Madrid and five ahead of Barcelona before they take on Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano, respectively, later during the matchday. An exciting clash awaits at El Sadar and Real Madrid, who will be firm favourites for the win, will look to get back to winning ways in La Liga after dropping four out of six possible points in their last two matches.