Real Madrid vs Osasuna

The stakes are high for defending La Liga champions Real Madrid as they entertain high-flying Osasuna at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

It’s been one bad beat after another for Real Madrid. Following a devastating 4-0 El Clasico defeat to La Liga pacesetters Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti’s side succumbed to a 3-1 home loss to AC Milan in midweek UEFA Champions League action, intensifying the pressure on the Italian veteran. After losing back-to-back home games for the first time since October 2020, ‘Los Blancos’ cannot afford another embarrassment, especially considering they already lag nine points behind Barcelona. With a game in hand, their title-defense hopes are still alive, yet there’s no margin for error against an Osasuna side they’ve defeated by at least a two-goal margin across their last three top-flight H2Hs. Furthermore, it’s been two decades since Madrid’s most recent home league loss to this opposition (W14, D3 since).

As for Osasuna, a narrow 1-0 home triumph against Valladolid last weekend saw them finish the matchday in fifth, hauling eight more points after 12 rounds than at the equivalent stage last term. Inspired by consecutive La Liga victories for the first time since February, ‘Los Rojillos’ come into this clash in a buoyant mood, bidding to defy their underwhelming away league record this season (W1, D2, L2). Following a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad on their last La Liga trip, Osasuna could make it back-to-back away league triumphs for the first time since August 2023. However, there’s a catch. Their lackluster frontline has averaged only 0.8 goals per away league fixture despite breaking the deadlock within 30 minutes in three of their last six La Liga games outside their home stadium.