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

Los Blancos are currently top of the La Liga table, boasting 21 points from their opening eight matches, while Osasuna sit in 10th position, collecting 10 points from their first eight games of 2023-24.

Match preview

Real Madrid's response to their 3-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby on September 24 has been excellent, winning their last three matches in all competitions, including league successes over Las Palmas and Girona, which has left them top of the table heading into the next set of fixtures.

Aside from the defeat to Diego Simeone's side, Los Blancos have not missed a step this season, winning seven of their eight in the league to collect 21 points, which has left them one point ahead of second-placed Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti's team have also been victorious in their opening two Champions League group-stage fixtures, beating Union Berlin 1-0 at Bernabeu on September 20 before recording a 3-2 victory over Napoli in Italy on Tuesday evening, with the team taking control of Group C on six points.

Jude Bellingham has been outstanding for Real Madrid this season, scoring eight goals and registering three assists in nine appearances, including a goal and an assist against Napoli, while he has managed six La Liga goals in seven outings during a remarkable start to his Bernabeu career.

Los Blancos will be determined to enter the international break off the back of another win, before playing three times in the latter stages of October against Sevilla, Braga and Barcelona.

Osasuna have not managed to beat Real Madrid in any competition since January 2011, while they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the capital outfit in the Copa del Rey final towards the end of last season.

Jagoba Arrasate's side did manage to claim a point in a 1-1 draw at Bernabeu in La Liga last term, though, and the visitors will certainly be the fresher of the two sides, having not been in action since recording a 2-0 victory over Alaves in the league last weekend.

Los Rojillos finished seventh in Spain's top flight last season, but they lost in the Europa Conference League playoff round to Club Brugge and have found it difficult to show consistency in the league this term.

Indeed, Osasuna have won three, drawn one and lost four of their eight La Liga games to collect 10 points, which has left them in 10th position in the table.

Arrasate's team are certainly better than they have shown for the majority of this season, but the two-goal success over Alaves ended a run of five matches without a victory, and a positive result at Bernabeu on Saturday could be used as a springboard.

Real Madrid La Liga form:

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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Osasuna La Liga form:

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Osasuna form (all competitions):

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Team News

Real Madrid will make a late check on a groin injury for David Alaba, with the Austria international missing the team's last two matches against Girona and Napoli.

Alaba is thought to have a strong chance of featuring, and Los Blancos desperately need him to be available, as Eder Militao is a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, while Nacho is serving a league suspension due to his red card in the clash with Girona.

Arda Guler and Thibaut Courtois are also still unavailable for selection through injury, but the team did not pick up any fresh problems in the clash with Napoli.

Ancelotti could move Eduardo Camavinga back into midfield for this match, with Ferland Mendy potentially being given his first start of the campaign at left-back.

Osasuna, meanwhile, will be without the services of at least two first-team players through injury, as Moi Gomez is missing due to a muscular issue, and Unai Garcia has a groin complaint.

Johan Mojica is also a major doubt with the issue that forced him off after entering as a substitute against Alaves, but Ezequiel Avila is available again following a suspension.

Ante Budimir found the back of the net last time out after coming off the bench, and the Croatian is now expected to be introduced into the starting side on Saturday afternoon.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Pena, Catena, D Garcia, Cruz; Moncayola, Munoz, Oroz; Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Arnaiz

We say: Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna

Osasuna are certainly capable of making this a tricky match for Real Madrid, who had an energy-zapping contest in Italy on Tuesday. Los Blancos have been very consistent this season, though, and we are expecting Ancelotti's side to secure another three points in this encounter.

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