Preview: Real Madrid vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Osasuna to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Saturday night.

Los Blancos, who drew 0-0 with Real Betis last weekend, currently occupy second spot in the table, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, while Osasuna sit in 11th position in the division.

Match preview

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Real Madrid are unbeaten in La Liga since the end of January, but two draws from their last three matches has prevented them from moving to the top of the division entering the final straight.

As it stands, Zinedine Zidane's side are second in the table, level on points with third-placed Barcelona, while they are two points behind leaders Atletico, who have also played 33 matches.

Barca will have the chance to move to the top of the division when they face Granada on Thursday evening, while Atletico are also in action before Real Madrid, with Diego Simeone's side facing Elche on Saturday afternoon, meaning that a lot could change before the time this fixture kicks off.

The title race in Spain's top flight is absolutely fascinating, with Sevilla also very much involved, and the reigning champions have drawn with Getafe and Real Betis in two of their last three league matches.

Zidane's team will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, meanwhile, with Karim Benzema cancelling out an early effort from Christian Pulisic, leaving the tie delicately poised ahead of the return game at Stamford Bridge next week.

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Osasuna, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo on Sunday, which ended a three-game winning run in Spain's top flight.

Los Rojillos have won 10, drawn 10 and lost 13 of their 33 league matches this season to collect 40 points, which has left them in 11th position in the division.

Jagoba Arrasate's side are only two points behind eighth-placed Granada, and they will be looking to improve on last season, when they claimed 10th on their return to this level of football.

Osasuna have won four, drawn five and lost seven of their 16 away La Liga matches this term, which is a relatively strong record, but they have not beaten Real Madrid either home or away in Spain's top flight since January 2011, and Los Blancos ran out 2-0 winners in the corresponding match last season.

Team News

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Madrid could welcome back captain Sergio Ramos this weekend, although it seems more likely that the Spain international will be given some minutes off the bench as he looks to be fit to start for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea.

Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez will again miss out through injury, while Federico Valverde is unlikely to be available as he bids to return from coronavirus.

Dani Carvajal has also been diagnosed with a hamstring issue, and it is currently unclear when the Spain international will be able to return to the field.

Zidane will make changes from the side that started against Chelsea, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in line for rests, while Rodrygo Goes and Marco Asensio could both be handed spots in the final third of the field with one eye on the trip to Stamford Bridge.

As for Osasuna, Ruben Martinez and Inigo Perez will both miss out through injury, but the visitors are otherwise in excellent shape as they prepare to head to the capital.

Head coach Arrasate is expected to make changes from the side that started the defeat to Celta, with Jony and Roberto Torres potentially earning spots in the final third of the field.

Osasuna boast a squad full of attacking players, meaning that there are plenty of options heading into this weekend's clash, but the midfield and back four are expected to remain unchanged.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Varane; Odriozola, Casemiro, Isco, Marcelo; Rodrygo, Benzema, Asensio

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Jonas, U. Garcia, Roncaglia, Cruz; Oier, Moncayola, Brasanac; Jony, Budimir, Torres

We say: Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna

Madrid will certainly have one eye on next week's trip to Chelsea, but they cannot afford to drop more points in La Liga during a vital stage of the season. Osasuna are capable of making this a tricky match, but we are expecting the hosts to pick up all three points in relatively routine fashion.