Managing Madrid - Osasuna Vs. Real Madrid, La Liga 2013Dominating European football since March 6th 1902https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50831/mm-fav.png2013-01-12T22:28:06+01:00http://www.managingmadrid.com/rss/stream/36357132013-01-12T22:28:06+01:002013-01-12T22:28:06+01:00A lacklustre Madrid drops points at Osasuna
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>An unfamiliar line-up and a lack of cutting edge up front, in addition to a harsh decision against Kaká, means Madrid are forced to share points with Osasuna.</p> <p><br><br>Madrid, simply put, lacked cutting edge in this game. Suspensions and injury continued to take their toll as Pepe, Ramos and Marcelo were unable to play and Madrid were lacking Cristiano Ronaldo on the wing.<br><br>A further complication: the game, in 3 days, against Valencia, which had Mourinho, apparently, rest Özil and Benzema in favour of Modrić (who had played splendidly mid-week) and a not-yet-fully-match-fit Gonzalo Higuaín.<br><br>Varane and Albiol slotted in at central defence. Khedira and Alonso, as usual, played the double pivot. Ahead of them, Callejón, Modrić, Higuain and Angel di María were expected to provide the attack. <br><br>Madrid is a team that does usually attack down the wings. This left Modrić rather isolated in the centre. And with no CR7 on the wing the attack simply lacked danger.<br><br>Angel di María, while very energetic, combined badly with Modric (a player he has rarely played with this season) and two promising counter attacks in the first half broke down because of his reluctance to pass to teammates who were running into space. It was not a bad performance from di María, who helped out in defence, but it was certainly not a good one either.<br><br>Higuaín's old danger showed in glimpses - his positioning was perfect. He was however, unsurprisingly given his long convalescence, lacking touch. It was a promising performance, and Madridistas will be glad to have him back, but he was, perhaps, not yet ready to start a game.<br><br>Madrid did not dominate possession but were the better side. The defence held up well and Coentrão and Varane, in particular, did a fine job in an unaccustomed line-up - covering each other as Coentrão cleared balls from central defence and Varane used his speed to cover the flanks.</p>
<p>Up front the team had few shots/shots on goal, but was very threatening on the counter-attack. Probably noticing this, Mourinho sent on Özil, Kaká and took off a tiring Higuaín for Benzema in the second half to take advantage of this and to try and find a goal.<br><br>Madrid picked up their game, until they were down to 10 after two unbelievably soft yellow cards saw Kaká dismissed from the field of play. There were a few more counter-attacks, and Callejón even had the ball in the net (ruled marginally offside) but there was too little time left for Madrid to find time to score. In addition, injury-time was cut short.<br><b><br>Additional Notes</b><br><br>It's hard to take anything concrete from this game. Iker Casillas and his defence did well and were very committed - especially to covering for one another and making do without the aerial skills of Cristiano Ronaldo to help out on set-pieces.</p>
<p>The lack of incisive attacking was probably down to the unfamiliarity of the players in the forward line with one another and to bad decision making in rapidly developing situations (such as: whenever Madrid broke). If Angel di María was trying to make a strong case for his return to the line-up he probably failed to do so. It was not a poor performance, but it was not good enough in a game when he needed to step up, and to make better decisions on the break.<br><br>Madrid play Valencia this week. Good luck to the team.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/12/3869982/osasuna-real-madrid-match-recapJ A Marsano2013-01-12T19:09:01+01:002013-01-12T19:09:01+01:00Match Thread At Osasuna
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>Lineups are official, and there's no Cristiano Ronaldo. Mourinho probably punished the Portuguese player for not thanking him after scoring three goals. Oh wait, he's suspended...</p> <p><b>Real Madrid Starting XI</b>: Casillas, Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol, Coentrao, Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Modric, Di María, Callejón, Higuaín</p>
<p>Osasuna Starting XI: Andrés Fernández, Marc Bertrán, Rubén, Arribas, Damiá, Cejudo, Lolo, Oier, Nino, Armenteros and Kike Sola</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/12/3869430/osasuna-real-madrid-liga-2013-liveLucas Navarrete2013-01-12T15:00:06+01:002013-01-12T15:00:06+01:00No Cristiano, but Marcelo is back!
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>Real Madrid will have to play without its star player who had an scoring streak going on. Cristiano Ronaldo had scored five goals in just two games, but his yellow card against Real Sociedad will make him miss the game. Jose Mourinho will have to choose one player out of Callejón, Di María, Higuaín or Kaká to replace the Portuguese star.</p> <p align="justify">This game will be remembered as Marcelo's return to the team's list. The Brazilian player missed three months of action, but he seems ready to enjoy some time on the field once again. Fàbio Coentrao will also be able to play for Real Madrid.</p>
<p align="justify"><span>Jose Mourinho's</span> team will try to end the first half of this Liga BBVA season in winning fashion, but they will have to do it without <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>. The team's leading scorer saw his fifth yellow card against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/real-sociedad">Real Sociedad</a> and is suspended for this match.That means Mourinho will need to find somebody who is able to fill Ronaldo's spot on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid's</a> left wing. Of all the options he has (Callejón, Di María, Kaká), an Higuaín-Benzema partnership is quite appealing. It's been quite a long time since Real Madrid lined up these two players at the same time, and considering Higuaín only returned to the team a couple of weeks ago, it's hard to foresee him getting that big of a run in such a cold environment.</p>
<p align="justify"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110858/xabi-alonso">Xabi Alonso</a> seems to be ready to play after his neck injury, but Mourinho might prefer to save him for the next three games against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/valencia">Valencia</a>. The Portuguese coach has tons of options. If either Coentrao or Marcelo play as the team's left back, Essien could play in Alonso's position alongside Khedira. Modric could also do that, but that would mean Callejón, Kaká and Di María will be fighting for two spots (if Higuaín isn't able to start just yet).</p>
<p align="justify">Mourinho has already said thousands of times that he will play in the Liga BBVA as if Real Madrid was fighting for the title. That probably rules out any chance of saving some players for the next three consecutive games against a much tougher Valencia team. Two of them will be very important, as the Copa del Rey is one of the two titles Real Madrid is still aiming to get.</p>
<p align="justify">Varane, Albiol and Carvalho will fight for two spots in the center of Real Madrid's defense. It's always good to see the young Varane play, but given the importance of the next games against Valencia and Osasuna's apparent lack of firepower, it could be better to play with Carvalho and Albiol tonight. Both of them have been working well and probably deserve some minutes.</p>
<p align="justify">Adán was sent off in the match against Real Sociedad, so the goalkeeper controversy won't matter for just one game.</p>
<p align="justify">All that matters about this match is keeping Real Madrid's good streak and feeling going.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/12/3868612/osasuna-real-madrid-analysisLucas Navarrete2013-01-12T10:38:38+01:002013-01-12T10:38:38+01:00Scouting Osasuna
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<figcaption>David Ramos</figcaption>
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<p>Osasuna isn't a great team, that's for sure. It's hard to say that they will keep themselves in the first division, but they still have a chance of accomplishing that even though they're currently last in the table. Osasuna's best player is probably their goalkeeper, Andrés Fernández. He's young and talented, and he's also been considered as one of Casillas' potential competition within the team for the next season.</p> <p align="justify">It's not good to play at Pamplona in January. And when it's supposed to rain and the temperatures are expected to be at around 5ºC, a trip to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/osasuna">Osasuna's</a> field without Cristiano Ronaldo, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110857/sergio-ramos">Sergio Ramos</a> and Pepe can be a nightmare.</p>
<p align="justify">Osasuna will also be missing Loue, Riesgo, Sisi and Torres, but none of them would be a big threat for Real Madrid. As a matter of fact, it's hard to point out a single player that could cause Real Madrid some trouble other than Fernández. Osasuna has conceded 17 goals and scored 13 (Real Madrid has conceded 20), so they defend quite well. Thing is, they can't score.</p>
<p align="justify">When Kike Sola is your highest scorer with four goals, you know you have a problem. Mendílibar has tried to build this team around the goalkeeper and some good defensive performances, and that should be considered a right decision if a look to Osasuna's attackers is taken. Armenteros, Nino, Cejudo and Sola aren't probably what you might consider Liga BBVA level.</p>
<p align="justify">Armenteros is the best one out of those four, and he's only scored two goals and delivered two assists. He helps his teammates defensively a lot, but that's not the only thing you expect from your best player.</p>
<p align="justify">In the midfield, Oier and Puñal will try to stop Real Madrid's playmakers. They don't have much quality, but they certainly don't need that to bother the opposition's flow and rhythm.</p>
<p align="justify">As stated before, Osasuna's defensive line is clearly the best part of the team. Bertrán, Arribas, Flaño and Damià are playing great to allow their team collect five draws in this first half of the Liga BBVA season. They are physically strong, but Real's ability to switch position could make them suffer.</p>
<p align="justify">One way or another, Osasuna's most dangerous ally will be the Reyno de Navarra, the cold temperatures, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo's</a> absence.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/12/3868598/osasuna-real-madrid-scoutingLucas Navarrete