Time & Venue
- 13:00 GMT, November 9
- Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Form
Just five months after Real Madrid claimed both the Champions League and La Liga titles for the 2023-2024 season, the pressure at the Bernabeu has raised questions about Carlo Ancelotti’s future.
Any defeat is painful for Los Blancos, but they recently suffered a heavy 0-4 loss to Barcelona at home in La Liga, followed by a 1-3 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.
Despite their low standing in the Champions League, Real Madrid is confident about advancing. However, the recent loss to Barcelona has affected their morale and position in La Liga.
Their scheduled match against Valencia last weekend was postponed due to flooding in Spain. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s victory over Espanyol extended their lead at the top of the table by nine points.
Real Madrid must win against Osasuna, as another poor result before the November international break could deepen the club’s crisis and potentially end their La Liga title hopes, especially if Barcelona continues their impressive form with a win over Real Sociedad.
While Kylian Mbappe has yet to find his best form for Real Madrid, Osasuna has not defeated Real in any competition since January 2011, and their last win at the Bernabeu in La Liga was a 3-0 victory in April 2004.
The Pamplona team managed to hold Real Madrid to a draw in two of their last three visits to the Bernabeu and enters this match on a high with three straight wins, two of which were in La Liga.
Vicente Moreno’s team has won their last two La Liga matches against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid without conceding and advanced in the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 win over Chiclana.
Osasuna currently has six wins, three draws, and three losses after 12 rounds, standing fifth in the rankings, only three points behind Real Madrid.
Team News
Real Madrid
Real Madrid suffered another injury setback with Aurelien Tchouameni expected to be sidelined for a month due to an ankle injury sustained in the match against AC Milan earlier in the week.
Tchouameni joins Real Madrid’s injury list, which includes Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba. Valverde left the Milan match due to a back issue but is expected to return and likely start in central midfield.
Rodrygo is also expected to return to the starting lineup after appearing as a substitute in the last match, while Eduardo Camavinga may benefit from Tchouameni’s absence this weekend.
Osasuna
Coach Moreno is likely to field the same lineup that started against Real Valladolid, with Ante Budimir continuing as the main striker.
Budimir scored 17 goals in La Liga last season and has six goals so far in 2024-2025. The experienced forward is expected to team up with Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Pena up front.
Raul Garcia’s recent brace in the Copa del Rey match against Chiclana may not be enough to earn him a starting spot. Osasuna has a fully fit squad, with no new injuries reported, giving Moreno the chance to field his preferred lineup in what promises to be an exciting match.
Predicted Lineups
Statistics
Real Madrid has won 14 of their last 16 home games against Osasuna in all competitions. Real Madrid has led at halftime and won the game in their last three encounters with Osasuna across all competitions. The last three matches between Real Madrid and Osasuna have all exceeded 2.5 total goals.
Goal & Conceding Rates
Analysis
Real Madrid needs a strong performance from Mbappe.
Real Madrid aims not only to secure three crucial points but also to deliver a convincing display for their passionate home crowd.
On the other hand, Osasuna is on a positive streak and sits in fifth place. Arrasate’s team is determined to maintain their winning momentum and might just cause an upset at one of the league’s toughest venues. This matchup promises to be intense and exciting.
Score Prediction (according to Whoscored): Real Madrid 3-1 Osasuna