Match Preview

Real Madrid return to La Liga action when they travel to El Sadar and face Osasuna on Sunday. Real will be wanting to bounce back after a disappointing loss and knockout out to Real Sociedad this past week in the Copa del Rey.

While the 21-match unbeaten streak across all competitions ended on Thursday, Real still have a La Liga streak going at 13 matches unbeaten in league play. The club has also won its last four league matches. Real remains top of the league table.

On the other side, Osasuna have only won one of their last five matches at El Sadar. They are currently 12th in the league table, a decent spot in their return to La Liga since the 2016-17 season.

These two clubs met back in September, Real took that match 2-0 at the Bernabéu. We’ll find out if this match is any different with Real Madrid trying to bounce back from their first actual loss since October.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid are still keeping Eden Hazard off the squad. Rodrygo and Brahim are also not available. James is out with a hip injury. Marco Asensio is still out with injury. Gareth Bale has finally returned to the squad.

Osasuna will be without Chimy Ávila, who is out the remainder of the season with a cruciate ligament rupture.

Centerback Aridane Hernández is suspended for this match and for Osasuna.

Potential XIs

Osasuna

Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Unai García, David García, Estupiñan; Moncayola, Brasanac; Ibañez, Rubén García, Torres; Cardona

Real Madrid

Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Vinicius, Benzema

Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Mendy, Modric and Casemiro all did not feature in the loss to Sociedad. We’ll likely see most, if not all, of these players start against Osasuna.

Mendy will likely slot back in to the left back role as he has been doing in La Liga recently. Despite scoring a goal, Marcelo was quite dreadful defensively on Thursday. Casemiro and Varane being back in the lineup should help greatly on the defensive aspect of the ball as well.

Vinicius had a big match against Sociedad, so he’s earned another start alongside Benzema. It’s probably unlikely Bale starts, so Zidane may go two up top unless he really wants to start Vazquez as well.

Prediction

Osasuna—Real Madrid 0-3

Real Madrid have not conceded a goal in their last two league matches. Likewise, Osasuna have not conceded a goal in their last two home matches in La Liga. They haven’t kept three clean sheets in a row at home since the 2011-12 season.

This will be an interesting match for Real. They must respond after getting knocked out of the Copa del Rey. They’ll also want to keep going full steam in La Liga because they haven’t really missed a beat and need to continue winning to stay on top.

Osasuna can force a result out of their opponent. They’ve done well at home the last couple of matches to keep clean sheets. However, they’ve conceded only one less goal than they’ve actually scored this season. They just took a 3-1 loss to Villarreal last weekend.

Losing Ávila, who is their starting striker and lead goalscorer, for the season a couple of weeks ago hurts them a lot. They relied on him heavily and he was tied for fifth in league scoring with nine goals.

Real having several defensive keys back in the starting lineup should tip them over the edge in terms of being favored in this match. They likely won’t conceded four goals like they did against Sociedad. But, they must be careful here on the road and not take Osasuna lightly.

Real Madrid need a win on the road in Pamplona if they want to keep their lead on Barcelona and continue their La Liga streak past this weekend.