Softfootball previews Saturday’s La Liga match as Real Madrid hosts Osasuna, detailing team news, predictions, and potential lineups.
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Following back-to-back home losses to Barcelona and AC Milan, Real Madrid faces a critical fixture against Osasuna in a bid to regain form and keep their La Liga title hopes alive. Madrid, currently second in La Liga and trailing Barcelona by nine points, is eager for a decisive comeback. Osasuna, meanwhile, arrives in fifth place with 21 points from 12 matches, looking to challenge the capital giants in an intriguing matchup.
Match Preview
Just months after claiming the Champions League and La Liga titles in the 2023-24 season, Real Madrid finds itself in a challenging phase. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is under pressure following a string of disappointing results, with the team suffering a tough 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga, followed by a 3-1 loss to Milan in the Champions League. Currently down in the Champions League rankings, Madrid remains hopeful of advancing but acknowledges the damage from their loss to Barcelona in both morale and league standings.
Due to last week’s postponed fixture against Valencia amid severe flooding, Real Madrid has seen Barcelona extend their lead at the top of the table. A win on Saturday is crucial to stave off a deepening crisis as another setback could seriously harm their title chances. Ahead of this critical fixture, star forward Kylian Mbappe will look to find his stride under Ancelotti, with the manager hoping to see him in peak form.
Osasuna’s Resilience
Osasuna hasn’t defeated Real Madrid since January 2011 and last triumphed at the Bernabeu in La Liga in 2004, yet they’re not to be overlooked. The Pamplona team managed draws in two of their last three visits and arrives in stellar form with three consecutive victories, including recent league wins over Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, plus a 5-0 Copa del Rey triumph over Chiclana.
Holding sixth place with a record of six wins, three draws, and three losses, Osasuna sits just three points behind Real Madrid, with Madrid holding a game in hand. Notably, Osasuna is the only team to defeat Barcelona in La Liga this season, and they’ll aim to deliver another upset against a struggling Madrid side.
Team News
Real Madrid faces fresh injuries, with Aurelien Tchouameni sidelined for at least a month due to an ankle injury sustained against Milan. Tchouameni joins Courtois, Carvajal, and Alaba in Madrid’s injury list. Federico Valverde, though briefly sidelined with a back issue, is expected to start in midfield. Rodrygo will likely rejoin the lineup, with Eduardo Camavinga filling Tchouameni’s role.
Osasuna’s manager, Vicente Moreno, may retain his starting lineup from the Real Valladolid game, with striker Ante Budimir leading the attack. Budimir, already with six league goals this season, is expected to pair with Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Pena up front. Osasuna boasts a fully-fit squad and will look to capitalize on Madrid’s vulnerability.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid: Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Osasuna: Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Cruz; Moncayola, Torro, Oroz; Pena, Budimir, Zaragoza
While Osasuna has every reason to aim for a positive result against an out-of-form Madrid, Los Blancos are likely to rally just enough to secure a crucial three points before the international break
