Osasuna Set to Battle Real Madrid: Key Matchups, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Fresh La Liga table-toppers Real Madrid have an opportunity to extend their advantage to four points ahead of Barcelona when they travel to face Osasuna on Saturday evening.
Following an impressive display in their commanding 4–1 triumph over in-form Real Sociedad last weekend, Madrid observed as Barça managed to surrender a second-half advantage against Catalonian neighbors Girona—though under disputed circumstances—on Monday evening.
Álvaro Arbeloa's squad have therefore reclaimed the summit of the standings, and their commanding historical record versus Osasuna indicates Barça will be chasing when they welcome Levante on Sunday.
Madrid approach this fixture following a Champions League triumph over Benfica that pushed them closer to the knockout stages, though the match was overshadowed by Gianluca Prestianni's reported racist comments toward Vinicius Junior, who secured Tuesday evening's first-leg victory with an excellent strike.
Prestianni and Benfica are scheduled to visit the Santiago Bernabéu for the second leg of their playoff encounter next Wednesday.
Prior to that fixture, however, Madrid must handle their responsibilities in Pamplona. Osasuna are positioned safely in the middle of the table and rank among Spain's most consistent teams. Alessio Lisci's squad remain undefeated across five matches and haven't suffered a home loss since November.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of the La Liga encounter.
What Time Does Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?
What Time Does Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?
Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Osasuna (DWDWW) | Real Madrid (WWWWL) |
|---|---|
Elche 0–0 Osasuna | Benfica 0–1 Real Madrid |
Celta Vigo 1–2 Osasuna | Real Madrid 4–1 Real Sociedad |
Osasuna 2–2 Villarreal | Valencia 0–2 Real Madrid |
Rayo Vallecano 1–3 Osasuna | Real Madrid 2–1 Rayo Vallecano |
Osasuna 3–2 Real Oviedo | Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid |
How to Watch Osasuna vs. Real Madrid on TV, Live Stream
How to Watch Osasuna vs. Real Madrid on TV, Live Stream
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United States | ESPN Deportes, ESPN Select, fuboTV, ESPN App |
United Kingdom | Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 2 |
Canada | TSN+ |
Mexico | Sky Sports Mexico, Sky+, izzi |
Osasuna Team News
Osasuna Team News
The home side enter Saturday's clash without Iker Benito, who remains sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a knee injury.
Flavien Boyomo is also expected to be unavailable with an ankle concern.
Osasuna have an otherwise complete roster available for Madrid's arrival, and they'll continue depending on the scoring prowess of experienced forward Ante Budimir as they aim to claim their first victory in this matchup since 2011. Budimir has found the net 11 times in La Liga this campaign.
Osasuna Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Osasuna Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Osasuna predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Herrera; Rosier, Catena, Herrando, Galan; I. Muñoz, Torró; García, Oroz, V. Muñoz; Budimir.
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid Team News
Jude Bellingham's hamstring problem is expected to keep him out of action longer than originally anticipated, while Rodrygo's fitness concern is significantly less serious.
Although Saturday's match will arrive too early for the Brazilian attacker, he should return to the squad next month.
Madrid are also missing center-back Éder Militão, though their backline has recently been strengthened by the comebacks of Antonio Rüdiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both featured in the starting eleven against Benfica on Tuesday evening.
With the second leg approaching, Arbeloa will probably implement several modifications to his starting formation. Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Franco Mastantuono are among the players who might be brought back this weekend.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Osasuna
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Osasuna
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Osasuna (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Mastantuono, Güler, Vinicius Junior; Mbappé.
Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Score Prediction
Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Score Prediction
Tuesday evening's events should only motivate this Real Madrid squad further, and Osasuna will be the initial team to experience their response on Saturday night.
Los Blancos have been superior in this head-to-head historically and have demonstrated signs of establishing momentum under Arbeloa following a challenging beginning.
The new coach has his star players performing at their peak, and Vini Jr's lethal partnership with Kylian Mbappé will certainly prove overwhelming for the mid-table hosts to contain.
Prediction: Osasuna 0–3 Real Madrid