Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Osasuna.
Our coverage this afternoon may be dominated by the Manchester derby which is currently taking place at Old Trafford but over in Spain, Real Madrid are preparing to play their third La Liga game of the season against Osasuna. It may not whet the appetite as much as a local showdown between the two Premier League heavyweights but we have full coverage coming up nonetheless!
Before we continue building up to the contest at the Bernabeu, let me point you in the direction of our
live commentary of the showdown between Manchester United and Manchester City. City hold a 2-1 lead but anything can happen in the closing 10 minutes...
Right then, without further ado, let's get onto the team news in Madrid. You may have already heard that a certain superstar is making his return...
REAL MADRID XI: Casilla,
Danilo, Ramos,
Pepe, Nacho, Kroos, Modric, Kovacic, Bale, Morata, Ronaldo
REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Yanez, Carvajal, Varane, Benzema, Vasquez, Mariano, Asensio
OSASUNA XI: Perez, Tano, Flano, D.Garcia, Oier, Riviere, Tienza, U.Garcia, Fuentes, Kenan, Cuevas
OSASUNA SUBSTITUTES: Mario, Leon, Riera, Torres, Jaime, Merida, Clerc
As expected, Real supporters get their first look at
Cristiano Ronaldo this season after his recovery from the knee injury which he picked up playing for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final. He forms part of a three-way forward line alongside
Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata while
Karim Benzema makes an appearance on the bench. Kiko Casilla plays in goal while Carvajal and Varane are only named on the bench, despite Zidane potentially having the opportunity to rest more of his side ahead of their Champions League opener next week.
As for Osasuna, the most notable inclusion is
Emmanuel Riviere, who joined the club during the final hours of the transfer window after being given permission to leave Newcastle United. He didn't really get a chance under Rafael Benitez but I'm sure he is raring to go at his new club.
RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at Old Trafford and Manchester City have held on to secure a 2-1 victory away at neighbours Manchester United. It was a thrilling game in the North-West so make sure you have a read on our
on-the-whistle match report here.
Back to matters in Spain and it's fair to say that Real Madrid haven't missed their star player, despite their obvious relief that he makes his return this afternoon. After winning the Spanish Super Cup, they began their league campaign with
a 3-0 win away at Real Sociedad but they were made to work for the three points when they
played Celta Vigo before the international break. However, coming out on top in a close match will do Zidane's team more harm than good during what, on paper, is a tame start to the season. There will be bigger tests to come, that's for sure, but maybe not this afternoon...
It hasn't been such a positive start for Osasuna, who find themselves making the trip to the Bernabeu having suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Sociedad. A late equaliser had earned them a share of the spoils away at Malaga on Matchday One but while they travel to Madrid with nothing to lose and everything to gain, they will fear that being on the wrong end of a lop-sided scoreline may set the tone for their upcoming games.
We should be up and running in 20 minutes or so but at one point this week, it appeared that this match may fall foul to the weather - that's the extremely hot weather. Spain have been experiencing a heatwave this week and it was fear that we could see temperatures towards 40C for this match, which would have resulted in a postponement. However, as it stands, it is "only" 31C in the capital city so we go ahead as planned.
We've already have one fixture take place in La Liga this afternoon and it saw Atletico Madrid run out 4-0 winners at Celta Vigo. The home side managed to hold firm for 54 minutes but as soon as Koke netted the first, Diego Simeone's men ran riot. As a result of their victory, they now sit in four place in the standings.
Looks like Real are pleased to see the return of these two...
PREDICTION! Real Madrid are extremely likely to win this game. I think so, you think so, the bookmakers think so, but by how many? We are going to go for 4-0. Ronaldo may not last the full match and Zidane may wish to rest players where he can ahead of the Champions League in midweek. If Real score one or two in the opening half hour, they will effectively be game over.
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch at the Bernabeu. We will be underway very shortly.
After a last count of the players by the referee, the game has started.
It has been a pretty slow start but that's to be expected in the searing heat. The sun is baking down onto the players and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of shade in the centre of the pitch. Osasuna will be pleased though. Maybe this is the right day to be facing Real.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna (Ronaldo)
That's how you mark a comeback! Ronaldo gets on the scoresheet but he won't net an easier goal all season. After Bale beat the offside trap, the Welsh winger was able to slide the ball across goal for his Portuguese teammate to tap home from all of two yards.
In all fairness, it has been a decent response from Osasuna who managed to force a corner soon after going behind. Nothing came from it, however, and Real were soon down the other end of the pitch where Kroos failed to make the most out of a promising position.
Ronaldo sometimes cuts a figure of frustation when he doesn't have the ball but he looks a man who is just happy to be back on the pitch this afternoon. There have been smiles and even hugs with
Gareth Bale, which you don't see every day. It's still all Madrid but Osasuna don't look too dispirited. They are getting plenty of men forward when they have the ball.
BOOKING! Flano is the first into the book this afternoon for what is a very late challenge on Kovacic. He can have no complaints there. The free kick is in shooting distance for either Ronaldo or Bale...
SHOT! It's Bale who takes the shot on but although his effort has got plenty of dip and swerve on it, it is always travelling a yard or two off target.
Osasuna manage to win another corner but like with the first one, Real deal with it and get men forward. They win a corner of their own at the other end but despite meeting the ball well, Ramos directs it marginally wide of the post. That was a chance he normally takes.
SAVE! Another opportunity for Ramos but on this occasion, credit should go to goalkeeper Perez for making the save. It was an ambitious header from Ramos but again, one that he is more than capable of scoring with.
Osasuna are having to do a lot of chasing and ball-watching at the moment. It's not going to do them any good given the heat and this kind of scenario may tire them later on in the match. Still, I'm sure they would have taken only being 1-0 down after 30 minutes after conceding so early.
BOOKING! Unai Garcia is the next man into the book for Osasuna for a foul. It gives Kroos the chance to strike a free kick on goal but it's far too close to Perez.
For all of their possession and dominance, I imagine Zidane would have expected a second goal by now. He is stalking the touchline and taking the chance of his shirt quickly becoming sweaty ala Sam Allardyce but he doesn't seem to mind. He wants more from his team.
With five or six minutes remaining of the first half, Osasuna have found a second wind and are starting to get the ball into the penalty area much faster than they have been. The midfield players are being given far too much time and space in and around the penalty area.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna (Danilo)
Moments after Unai Garcia had struck the crossbar for Osasuna, Real go up the other end and effectively put this game to bed, you would think. It's
Danilo with the goal although he is slightly fortunate after Perez made a poor attempt to save his low drive. He should be stopping that...
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Osasuna (Ramos)
If it wasn't game over before, it definitely is now. Real have the third of the afternoon and it's Ramos who has gotten on the scoresheet. A corner was whipped in by Kroos and Ramos had all the time in the world to head into the top corner after coming under no pressure from a defender.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 3-0 Osasuna
The half-time whistle has gone at the Bernabeu and a late rally from Real has ensured that they go into the break with a 3-0 lead. We are only halfway through this match but I'd say this is over as a contest. How many will the home side score after the break? We'll be back in a few moments to find out.
We are back underway in the second half.
Full credit to Osasuna, they have come out for the second half and have created a couple of corners. Neither of them come to anything but at least they have showed Real that they won't roll over and concede the game. Given the heat, it is more surprising than you would think.
SHOT! The offensive-minded approach from the visitors has resulted in Real coming to life and Kovacic is the first player to test Perez this second half with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
We are back to the tempo of the first half now. Real are bossing possession and Osasuna can either sit back and allow them to attack or chase the ball and tire themselves out in 32C. I know which one I would pick. Still 3-0 but Zidane's men are gaining momentum.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna (Pepe)
Real have a fourth and another defender is on the scoresheet! Again, it's that man Kroos with the assist from the corner but this time,
Pepe is on hand to power a header into the corner of Perez's net. Get ready for the substitutions that are about to come...
CHANCE! It really should be five. Bale latches onto a long ball and the Osasuna defence have not got a chance of catching him. However, he finds Perez a motivated opponent and the goalkeeper does well to get a block in. They don't have to wait much longer for another goal, though...
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-0 Osasuna (Modric)
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Osasuna (Riera)
Give me time to catch up because it's all going on...
Real take a 5-0 lead through Modric who, after being teed up by Morata, found the bottom corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
It appeared to be a case of how many for Real but two minutes later, Osasuna get on the scoresheet themselves! De La Cuevas delivered a beautiful ball to the back post for Oriol Riera (remember him, Wigan Athletic fans?) to head home into the bottom corner.
SUBSTITUTION! He has played longer than I would have predicted but Ronaldo makes way for Benzema, who is given 23 minutes to remind the home fans what he is capable of.
PENALTY TO OSASUNA!
MISS! Oh dear! It would not have got Osasuna back into the match but it would have at least given the scoreline some respectively. After Ramos conceded the foul inside the penalty area, Torres stepped up to take the penalty but he tried to be too clever and Casilla was on to it to make the save.
SUBSTITUTION! As expected, Bale is the next player to be substituted by Zidane. He akes way for Vasquez to take his place.
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-2 Osasuna (Garcia)
This is quite extraordinary, really. Osasuna could have potentially reduced the score to 5-3 had they scored that penalty. They pull another goal back through Garcia, who finds the top corner with a header after meeting Jaime Romero's cross.
RED CARDS! How many incidents have there been in this game! Osasuna have been reduced to 10 men after Bonnin picked up two yellow cards in the space of about five minutes.
CHANCE! Kroos could have made it six for Real but he slid the ball past the post after being found in a promising position.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Real Madrid 5-2 Osasuna
The full-time whistle goes at the Bernabeu and Real have completed a comprehensive win over Osasuna. The visitors deserve credit for how they fought in the second half but in truth, this was a routine victory over Zidane's team. Thank you for joining us for this game but we hope you can stick around for the Liverpool versus Leicester City game which is coming up shortly. Goodbye for now.