Real Madrid will be bidding to move to within five points of La Liga leaders Barcelona when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Saturday night to face Osasuna.

Los Blancos will enter the clash off the back of a 4-0 win over basement side Elche on Wednesday night, while Osasuna, who sit ninth in the table, drew 0-0 with Real Valladolid last weekend.

Osasuna have faltered in La Liga (LL) lately following a bright start to 2023 (D3, L1), a run they’ll need to promptly snap out of if they’re to maintain hopes of qualifying for Europe for the first time since 2005/06.

Their progress to the Copa del Rey semi-finals shows they can still raise their game for the big occasion though, and there are few more imposing than the visit of Real Madrid.

That said, they haven’t beaten the reigning LL champions and potential cup final opponents – here since January 2011 (D3, L5), conceding at least twice in five of the last six home H2Hs.

Ending that hoodoo seems unlikely as at home in LL this term they’ve only lost to sides currently in the top four or bottom three and are yet to draw (W6, L4), making them clear outsiders.

Madrid cruised to a 4-0 midweek win over Elche as Karim Benzema overtook Raúl to become their second highest LL scorer, taking his tally to 230 goals with a brace of penalties. He’s still well behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 311 but if he can keep scoring, it’ll help Madrid rack up the points and perhaps close the eight-point gap to fierce rivals and league leaders Barcelona.

Players to watch: Ante Budimir netted the second goal in last season’s corresponding fixture for Osasuna but each of his three subsequent strikes have been openers between the 40th and 70th minute.

After netting against Elche, Budimir’s Croatian compatriot Luka Modrić has seen his last eight goalscoring appearances for Madrid feature over 2.5 goals.

Hot stat: Madrid have lost just one of their last 28 LL games played on a Saturday (W24, D3).

Barcelona are not in action until Sunday night, so a victory for Real Madrid in this match would see the gap become five, and Ancelotti’s side cannot afford many more slip-ups if they are to stand a serious chance of retaining the title this season.

Los Blancos will switch their attention to the Champions League after this match, heading to Liverpool next week for the first leg of their last-16 affair, while the month ends with the small matter of a Madrid derby at home to Atletico Madrid in Spain’s top flight.

Real Madrid were actually held to a 1-1 draw by Osasuna at Bernabeu back in October, but the capital giants have not lost to their opponents this weekend since January 2011.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Moncayola, Aridane, U Garcia, Sanchez; Ibanez, Torro, M Gomez; Ezzalzouli, Budimir, K Garcia

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius

Osasuna La Liga form:

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Osasuna form (all competitions):

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Real Madrid La Liga form:

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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