Osasuna vs Real Madrid predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as Los Blancos travel to El Sadar.
| Date | Saturday 18th February 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | El Sadar |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Osasuna vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid have a tricky game at El Sadar this weekend, only three days before their Champions League trip to Liverpool. It’s a difficult balancing act for Carlo Ancelotti in terms of selection as he really can’t afford to see his side lose any more ground to Barcelona in the title race, but he’ll have one eye on a huge game on Merseyside.
Osasuna will be hoping to take advantage of that distraction but they’ll be forced into a few changes of their own with both Chimy Avila and Juan Cruz picking up their 5th bookings last time out. Cruz’s absence isn’t a major problem with David Garcia available again to return in central defence but Avila remains their most dangerous attacking weapon and will be missed.
With Aimar Oroz also potentially missing again, at least from the starting XI, Osasuna’s lineup will be without over 50% of their goals this season. Ante Budimir and Kike Garcia have just 2 apiece and will compete for the right to lead the line. It could be Barcelona loanee Abde Ez who offers the most spark for the home team here and the young winger will be hungry to make an impression against Los Blancos.
Real Madrid will travel to Pamplona without Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema but it should be about as strong an eleven as Ancelotti can name aside from that. The onus will be on Vini Junior and Rodrygo to lead the attack for the visitors and that’s something that will become more and more prevalent with Benzema turning 36 later this year and increasingly likely to struggle with the demands of starting two games per week.
The good news for Real Madrid fans is that they weren’t really tested in midweek and Ancelotti was able to rotate and withdraw players to save legs ahead of tougher tests ahead. They cruised past bottom club Elche to record a 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu but anything less than a win here will most likely see them at least 10 points behind Barcelona by Monday given the Catalans have a winnable fixture at home to Cadiz.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Osasuna
| INJURED | Vidal, Pena |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Juan Cruz, Chimy Avila |
Possible XI: Aitor – Manu Sanchez, Aridane, David Garcia, Moncayola – Ibanez, Torro – Ruben Abde, Moi Gomez, Barja – Budimir (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Jagoba Arrasate
Real Madrid
| INJURED | Mendy, Benzema, Kroos |
| DOUBTFUL | Hazard |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Courtois – Alaba, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal – Modric, Tchouameni, Ceballos – Vini, Rodrygo, Valverde (4-3-3)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Score Prediction: Osasuna 0-1 Real Madrid
This is a tricky game for Real Madrid but the absence of Chimy Avila does make you question where Osasuna’s goal threat is going to come from and the hosts actually have a really poor record of just 3 goals scored in their last 7 league outings. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have both claimed narrow wins at El Sadar already this season and a repeat could be on the cards here for Los Blancos.
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