Osasuna vs Real Madrid

La Liga leaders Real Madrid head to El Sadar to take on mid-table Osasuna.

Title-bidding Girona knocked Osasuna down from a four-game unbeaten run in La Liga with a 2-0 win last weekend, extending the Pamplona outfit’s long-standing woes against high-profile rivals. Indeed, Jagoba Arrasate’s men have lost all seven league matches against the sides starting this matchday inside the top five, increasing the likelihood of another disappointment in this match-up. Los Rojillos have failed to win any of their last 20 encounters against Real Madrid (D5, L15), including a 4-0 demolition in October’s reverse fixture. But El Sadar’s intimidating atmosphere could help Osasuna flip the script, especially as they’ve won an eye-catching five of their last six La Liga home outings (L1). Four of those five victories came ‘to nil,’ highlighting the significance of scoring the opening goal.

Quick openers haven’t been Real Madrid’s strong suit on the road this season, considering they’ve conceded first in 43% of their La Liga travels. But their mental fortitude has been off the charts, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side avoiding defeat in five of six such matches (W3, D2), barring a derby loss to Atletico Madrid in September. That remains Los Blancos’ only defeat of the 2023/24 La Liga campaign (W21, D6) and only insignificantly spoils the division’s best traveling record (W9, D4, L1). Therefore, it’s no surprise the visitors commence this round seven points clear of second-placed Girona. But Madrid’s patchy league form has seen them alternate between winning (3) and drawing (2) across their last five outings. A 4-0 demolition of Celta Vigo in the previous round gives them a chance to post back-to-back top-flight wins for the first time since January/February.