Osasuna vs Real Madrid

Reigning La Liga holders Real Madrid travel to El Sadar to encounter mid-table strugglers Osasuna in a must-win contest.

Since a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Mallorca in mid-January, European hopefuls Osasuna have gone winless in four consecutive league outings (D3, L1), netting a poor average of 0.5 goals per game, most recently sharing the spoils with Real Valladolid in a tepid 0-0 draw. But despite managing just one win in six La Liga fixtures in 2023 (D4, L1), ‘Los Rojillos’ are still within a bridgeable three-point distance of sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, highlighting the significance of this encounter. Unfortunately for Jagoba Arrasate’s men, they’re now up against a historically formidable rival they last ousted at home in 2011. Since then, Osasuna have gone winless in eight straight home league H2Hs against Madrid (D3, L5), conceding at least three goals in three of the last four at El Sadar.

In the meantime, Real Madrid followed up a triumphant FIFA Club World Cup journey with a 4-0 demolition of basement boys Elche in midweek La Liga action, closing the gap on leaders Barcelona to eight points. However, if they’re to defend the title for the first time in 15 years, ‘Los Merengues’ must find consistency on their travels after their last six away league matches fluctuated between victories (3) and defeats (3), including a 1-0 loss at Mallorca on their most recent trip. That result marked Madrid’s first scoring blank on hostile turf this season. But with Karim Benzema leapfrogging Raul as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in La Liga history with a brace against Elche, another scoreless showing looks unlikely.