Osasuna – Real Madrid

2023 - 2 - 18

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Football Espana"

Predicted XIs Osasuna-Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois set for return ... (Football Espana)

Real Madrid have the chance to close the gap at the top of La Liga to five points on Saturday evening, when they travel to Pamplona to take on Osasuna.

They expect Marco Asensio to retain his place after his [goalscoring](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/02/15/watch-marco-asensios-solo-effort-gives-real-madrid-an-early-lead) exploits midweek, while Dani Ceballos is set to retain his place, with Eduardo Camavinga likely to drop out. Real Madrid are without key duo Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema for the fixture, but the big news is that Thibaut Courtois is set to start. [Sport](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/real-madrid/real-madrid-margen-error-sadar-83163729) expect a similar defence to the one that recorded a clean sheet at home to Elche on Wednesday, with Luka Modric installed to the starting line-up following a [goalscoring](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/02/15/watch-luka-modric-scores-stunner-as-real-madrid-add-a-fourth-against-elche) cameo against the league’s bottom side.

Osasuna vs Real Madrid: times, how to watch on TV, stream online ... (AS English)

Osasuna host Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday 18 February with kick-off at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.

Osasuna are always up for a game against Real Madrid but they haven’t been in great form of late. Real Madrid know that there is no room for any more slip-ups if they are to have any chance of catching Barcelona. Osasuna host Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday 18 February with kick-off at 3:00 p.m. Jagoba Arrasate’s men are currently on a disappointing run of only one victory in their last eight in the league although they have progressed to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they will meet Athletic Club. El Sadar is known for being one of the more difficult away trips in Spain, although Getafe, Valencia, Barça and Atlético Madrid have all won in Pamplona this term. Osasuna have been one of LaLiga’s streakiest teams so far this season, having kicked off the campaign with four wins in their first five matches, immediately followed by just one win in six LaLiga games.

Osasuna vs. Real Madrid - Football Match Report - February 18 ... (ESPN)

Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio netted second-half goals as Real Madrid won 2-0 away to Osasuna to cut the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona to five ...

On the performance of Rodriguez, Ancelotti added: "He is a player that has lots of qualities. "He can help us as he did today. "We've played a good game, it was important to win and we leave happy to keep LaLiga alive," Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said. [Mallorca](/soccer/team?id=84) after midfielder [Manu Trigueros](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/158605/Manu-Trigueros) was sent off in the 21st minute, while [Real Betis](/soccer/team?id=244) beat [Real Valladolid](/soccer/team?id=95) 2-1 at home and [Celta Vigo](/soccer/team?id=85) grabbed a 1-1 draw away to [Real Sociedad](/soccer/team?id=89). [Karim Benzema](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema) missing through injury, [Vinicius Junior](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252107/Vinícius-Júnior) had to carry the creative burden for [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86) and though he eventually came up trumps for his team, he had to go through plenty of adversity to get there. [Federico Valverde](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/235818/Federico-Valverde) and [Marco Asensio](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/195821/Marco-Asensio) netted second-half goals as [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86) won 2-0 away to [Osasuna](/soccer/team?id=97) to cut the gap to LaLiga leaders [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) to five points, but the reigning champions had to battle all the way to get their victory.

CA Osasuna - Real Madrid live: La Liga - Football - Eurosport (Eurosport.com)

Get the latest Football updates on Eurosport. Catch CA Osasuna - Real Madrid live on 18/02/2023. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

Osasuna have turned this game on its head in the last few minutes. It was a really worked goal from Los Blancos. It's not clear who was offside, but it may well have been Vinicius.

Osasuna 0-2 Real Madrid: Familiar faces deliver but Rodriguez, 18 ... (The Athletic)

With Karim Benzema absent, Real Madrid relied on tried and tested alternatives in attack, but 18-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez got an assist too.

Benzema has scored 16 goals this season (six of them from the penalty spot), Vinicius has also scored 16 (no penalties), Valverde has 12 (no penalties) and Rodrygo has 10 (three penalties). [The Athletic’s Spanish football coverage](https://theathletic.com/4064085/2023/01/09/barca-barcelona-real-madrid/) has expanded… It is another good option for Ancelotti, who knows that Benzema has already missed 15 games for the team this season, and that there is still a long way to go. [La Liga news](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/), [La Liga table](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/standings/); [La Liga fixtures and results](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/schedule/) [Dermot Corrigan](https://theathletic.com/author/dermot-corrigan/)is joined by four new writers… He acknowledged after the match that the youngster is likely to see further first-team opportunities, adding that he will talk to Raul himself to manage his minutes. In August, he reportedly opted to represent the South American country internationally but is yet to make a senior appearance. Rodriguez might only have been on the pitch for just over five minutes, but he impressed greatly and there was a great deal of talk about his effervescent influence. “Alvaro always speaks very highly of Raul,” his mother Pilar continued. It was Vinicius Jr who made Madrid’s first goal, cutting the ball back for Valverde. No such abuse has yet been reported from Saturday’s match, after which the player posted on social media: “The insults continue… He was jeered throughout the match. The 22-year-old Brazilian has received racist abuse from crowds in Spain on several occasions this season.

Real Madrid thump Osasuna to close in on leader Barcelona (Pakistan's first HD Sports Channel)

Defending champions Real Madrid battled hard to seal a comprehensive 2-0 away triumph over Osasuna to cut the gap with La Liga leaders Barcelona to five ...

Vinicius set up Federico Valverde for the opening goal in the 78th minute before Asensio slammed home a pass from teenager substitute Alvaro Rodriguez in stoppage time to steer Madrid to triumph. The Brazillian then had the ball in the net for Real Madrid in the 52nd minute after a heated first half that witnessed four players booked, but the goal was chalked off when he was found to be offside when the ball was played into him. PAMPLONA: Defending champions Real Madrid battled hard to seal a comprehensive 2-0 away triumph over Osasuna to cut the gap with La Liga leaders Barcelona to five points.