Real Madrid will travel to El Sadar to take on Osasuna this weekend after a huge storm forced Los Blancos to postpone their last game with Celta Vigo. The frustration further increased as arch rivals Barcelona edged closer to them at the top of the table with an emphatic win over Athletic Bilbao.
Although Real are yet to play two games, the reduced points gap definitely puts added pressure on Zidane’s side. Since Real Madrid saw themselves losing to Sevilla in mid-January that ended their unbeaten streak, the Whites have pretty much faltered in their game.
PREDICTED REAL MADRID XI VS OSASUNA (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Keylor Navas will take his position under the bar and will hope for a clean sheet. The Costa Rican international has conceded 14 goals in 13 appearances so far and is high on Zidane’s books. And with an immovable defence guarding the custodian, he rarely faces challenges.
Daniel Carvajal is facing a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and the Brazilian full-back, Danilo, is expected to continue his role down that flank. In central defence, it will likely to be Ramos and Varane and the duo will hope to keep out the rare Osasuna attacks. Although Pepe has returned to training from his calf injury that he suffered early last month, Zidane isn’t expected to rush him back to the starting XI.
Nacho Fernandez will start as the left-back. Although Marcelo has returned to training from his hamstring injury, the manager is expected to start from the bench.
MIDFIELD
The midfield 3 is unlikely to change with Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic and Casemiro lining up once again. Real will hugely miss their best player Luka Modric in the midfield, who has been brilliant even in an injury-ravaged season. Modric is out with a thigh injury and could return in a few days.
The trio was brilliant in the last game and will look to recapture that form and efficiency once again. With Casemiro shielding the back-four, the other two will have all the freedom in the world and Kroos seems more lethal in the attacking role.
ATTACK
Cristiano Ronaldo has been the biggest threat for the opponent facing Real with the Portuguese international scoring 13 goals and assisting 3 so far from the left flank. Benzema is expected to continue his role up front. Alvaro Morata has been tremendous from the bench and Benzema is facing stiff competition for a first team place. Lucas Vasquez is likely to start on the right-flank.
Ronaldo – Benzema – Vazquez
Kovacic – Casemiro – Kroos
Fernandez – Ramos – Varane – Danilo
Navas
