It’s all going well for Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti once more. Following a midweek victory over Manchester City in the Champions League, they’re well-placed to start their usual assault on the knockout stages there – and domestically they sit top of LaLiga ahead of a trip to win-shy Osasuna.
By Karl Matchett
Always a crisis, always a way out
It’s not uncommon for headlines around Los Blancos to focus on things they’re doing badly, players they need to sign and anything else which could or should be improved, in the eyes of those commentating. But the truth is usually rather less remarkable: Real Madrid are an exceptional team, but don’t win every single game. And, the size of the club being what it is, every non-victory is held up as proof that Things Must Change. So are some of the victories, actually.
Here’s a stat to show that’s probably not really true: more teams have had a player sent off against Real Madrid in 2025, than Real Madrid have actually lost fixtures. The only sides to beat them since early December are Barcelona and Espanyol – hardly “Ancelotti out” territory, nor an example of why they need six summer reinforcements, despite what some headlines will have you believe.
Having drawn the derby last time out in the league they still lead the table by a point and have a reasonable run of league fixtures coming up – nobody in the top six in their next four – which starts at El Sadar on Saturday.
Recent form
Here’s a riddle for you: which three Spanish teams have lost fewer matches than Real Madrid (four) across all competitions in the past three months? Obviously part of the answer is easy, because it’s their next opponents. The other parts of the riddle are their last opponents, actually (Atlético Madrid, one), and Athletic Club (three). Osasuna have tasted defeat just three times too since 9 November, yet ridiculously have won only four. Seven draws in that time explain how they have only lost once more than Barcelona in LaLiga this term, yet sit ninth in the table. Real have won seven of their last nine.
Team news
Enzo Boyomo is suspended and Ante Budimir will probably miss out for Osasuna – a big blow if he does as that’s starting centre-back and striker both then out. Real Madrid are without Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Lucas Vázquez and David Alaba. The latter two could return at the end of this month, though Alaba has been sidelined for months so certainly won’t be rushed back.
Key player
After a slow start to the campaign, Kylian Mbappé is now behind only Robert Lewandowski (19 goals) in the scoring charts, with 16 from an xG of 15.3. He’s averaging 2.3 shots on target per 90, the best of any starter in the league, but also ranks in the top 90 per cent-plus for touches in the box, dribbles, accurate long balls and shots. All-round threat now, which you’d expect for his hype and cost.
Prediction
Another three points for the visitors, in a fairly low-key game: Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 2.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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