Defending champions Real Madrid are set to face Osasuna in a crucial LaLiga match on Saturday at 9 PM local time (20:00 GMT) at the El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona. With an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the league standings to four points, Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from recent league struggles, including a draw against Atletico Madrid and a surprising loss to Espanyol.
Real Madrid currently leads the LaLiga table but faces stiff competition from second-placed Atletico Madrid, who will play against Celta Vigo later on Saturday. Barcelona, sitting in third place, trails Madrid by just two points and will also be in action on Monday against Rayo Vallecano.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager, expressed confidence in his team despite their recent league performances. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, stating, “We are well motivated, and it’s an opportunity to keep the lead, which is our goal.” Ancelotti highlighted the need for his players to replicate the positive aspects of their recent 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League.
The match comes at a challenging time for Real Madrid, as they deal with significant injuries within their squad. Key defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are out for the season, while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba were also unavailable for the Manchester City match. Lucas Vazquez is likely to miss the Osasuna game due to injury concerns as well.
On the other side, Osasuna, currently in ninth place, is eager to capitalize on Real Madrid’s vulnerabilities. The team, which finished as runners-up in the Copa del Rey last year, has shown they can rise to the occasion against top clubs, as demonstrated by their impressive 4-2 victory over Barcelona earlier this season. Osasuna’s Croatian striker Ante Budimir, who has been in fine form, will be key to their attack. Budimir recently became the club’s record overseas goal scorer and has netted 12 goals so far this season.
However, Osasuna will be without their suspended center back Flavien Boyomo, adding to their challenges as they prepare to face the LaLiga leaders. Historically, Real Madrid has dominated this matchup, winning 31 of their 46 encounters, and they are currently on a five-match winning streak against Osasuna.
As both teams gear up for this important clash, the outcome could have significant implications for the title race and European qualification spots in LaLiga. Fans can follow the live text and photo commentary of the match on Al Jazeera sport’s platform.