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While we would all love to revel in Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon D'Or victory, the boys have to get back to work and defend their 2-0 lead over Osasuna in the Copa Del Rey tournament. A couple notes on the roster available tomorrow, Carlo confirmed that Fabio Coentrao will make his return and that Luka Modric, of absolutely brilliant form this season, will receive a well-deserved rest.
Regarding Real's opponent, Osasuna, they're not a very good squad. They sit in 13th place in the league with 21 points and a -12 goal differential. They're not good at keeping possessions (45 percent), they're bad in the shots department (11 shots per game while conceding 15 shots per game), can't really score (17 goals in 19 matches) and just aren't great defensively. Oriol Riera (being scouted for a potential move to Everton) is their player to watch as he has seven goals in the league so far this season and is a pretty good aerial player. Raoul Loe is another player to watch as a number of Premier League scouts will be in the stands scouting him for a potential move out of Osasuna.
The last game between the two sides ended in a Madrid victory, 2-0. Goals from Karim Benzema and prodigious talent Jese ensured that Los Blancos should have a relatively comfortable time in the second leg. The first half went pretty well but the second was better for the home team. Madrid out shot, out possessed and out defended Osasuna even though Carlo fielded a somewhat surprising 4-3-3/4-4-2 lineup. It wasn't absolutely beautiful but, aside from a moment here or there, it wasn't really in doubt for Real either. Expect more of the same tomorrow with possibly some youngsters getting minutes.
Below is a quick visual recap of the first leg. The numbers in red are missed shots, green are shots leading to goals.
If Osasuna pull off the upset then I'll eat my shoe.
Predicted RM lineup: Casillas, Arbeloa, Nacho, Ramos, Coentrao, Illarramendi, Casemiro, Isco, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Morata (but Carletto will probably mix it up just to spite me).
What are your predictions and thoughts?
