Match Preview

Real Madrid gets set to face Osasuna for the first time this season at El Sadar on Saturday. This one could be a unique one as it is projected to snow during the match in Pamplona.

Real is coming off a win last weekend over Celta Vigo. Los Blancos haven’t lost in their last seven league matches and have lost just one of their last 14 road matches played. Real is second and just two points behind Atletico, though Atleti do not play until Tuesday.

It’s been a dreadful second season for Osasuna after being called up to the Primera División last season for the first time since 2017. The club closed out last season with a respectable 10th place finish. It currently sits second to last in the La Liga table, going winless in its last 10 league matches played.

Osasuna is also winless in its last five home matches played. The club hasn’t registered a win in La Liga since the end of October.

Injuries/Suspensions

Sergio Ramos is back in the squad after missing the Celta Vigo match last weekend. Luka Jovic is out with a muscle injury. Rodrygo is still out long-term.

Osasuna will likely be without midfielders Lucas Torro and Darka Brasanac. The club will also be without forwards Chimy Avila and Adrian Lopez as well as goalkeeper Ruben Martinez.

Dani Carvajal is suspended for Real Madrid in Saturday’s match.

Potential XIs

Osasuna

Herrera; Vidal, Hernandez, David Garcia, Cruz; Torres, Moncayola, Oier, Ruben Garcia; Calleri, Budimir

Real Madrid

Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Vazquez, Hazard, Benzema

With Carvajal serving suspension, there’s a choice to be made here by Zidane for who slots in his place. With Vazquez playing so well on the wing recently it may be best to put Alvaro Odriozola at right back. Zidane could also utilize Vazquez with Marco Asensio getting the start on the wing instead.

Sergio Ramos will likely start after returning to the squad.

Eden Hazard has yet to start since coming back from injury, though he did feature off the bench against Celta. This could be the match we finally see him start again.

Prediction

Osasuna—Real Madrid 0-3

This should be a winnable match for Real Madrid given the recent runs of both clubs this season. Real Madrid has been solid on the road all season and is having a fairly great stretch of play.

Osasuna has been unable to get league wins both at home and overall. The club also scores around the lowest in the league yet is tied for second in most goals conceded this season.

A win is needed for Real since this is a match it shouldn’t have issue winning. Real won both meetings against Osasuna last season.

If it does snow rather heavy it will be interesting to see how both teams handle it whilst playing. It will certainly make for a unique setting and something that isn’t seen too often in Spanish football.