Real Madrid face 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
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Barely five months have passed since Real Madrid won the Champions League to add to their La Liga title for the 2023-24 campaign, but due to the immense demands at Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti's position as head coach is being called into question.
Any loss for Los Blancos is damaging, but the capital giants were thumped 4-0 at home by Barcelona in La Liga on October 26, before suffering a 3-1 defeat at Bernabeu to Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Los Blancos are down in 18th spot in the Champions League table but 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 due to take on Valencia in the league last weekend, but the fixture was postponed due to the floods in Spain, and Barcelona's win over Espanyol allowed the Catalan side to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
Simply put, Real Madrid have to win this weekend, as another poor result ahead of the November international break would put the club into full-blown crisis mode, and it might end their chances of winning the La Liga title, even at this stage, if Barcelona were to continue their excellent form with a victory over Real Sociedad.
Kylian Mbappe is believed to be 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.
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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.
The Pamplona outfit have held Real Madrid to draws on two of their last three trips to Bernabeu, though, and they will enter this match in excellent form, having posted three straight wins, 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 without conceding, while they progressed in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night with a 5-0 success over Chiclana.
Osasuna have a record of six wins, three draws and three defeats from their 12 league matches this season to sit in fifth spot in the table, only three points behind Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.
Los Rojillos are also the only team to beat Barcelona in the league this season, and they 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.
Team News
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Real Madrid have suffered 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 came off against Milan with a back problem, but the Uruguay international is widely expected to be available for selection here, and he should start in central midfield.
Rodrygo is also likely to be introduced back into the side, having featured off the bench last time out, while Eduardo Camavinga is expected to be the player to benefit 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.
Raul Garcia scored a brace against Chiclana in the Copa del Rey last time out, but it is unlikely to earn him a spot in the side.
Osasuna currently have a fully-fit squad, with no fresh issues reported this week, so head coach Moreno will be able to name his preferred XI for what is shaping up to be a very interesting match.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
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
We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Osasuna
Osasuna will fancy their chances of picking up a positive result against an out-of-form Real Madrid, and we would not be surprised if it was a draw in the Spanish capital on Saturday. However, we just have a feeling that Los Blancos will do enough to secure a vital three points ahead of the November international break.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
