Real Madrid took the three points from El Sadar and cut their deficit against Barcelona to five after another typical match in Pamplona, where they suffered all the usual penalties against an Osasuna who presented them with a brave and fierce game, from strength to strength . Desperate for Sergio Herrera's saves for Vinícius, the whites found their goal in minute 79 in a shot from Valverde and certified victory with another from Asensio in added time.
Joseba Arrasate's team is one of the most likely to choke on the whites, who have not been able to beat them for two seasons at the Bernabeu. Arrasate did not have a bolt like that of Aguirre's Mallorca, much less, but he went to look for Madrid in his field and fought for the ball in all plots.
Madrid appeared with Courtois, but they missed Benzema, whom Rodrygo could not replace because in these games he lacks bodywork to prevail in individual duels. The whites played with two wingers, but in reality they only had Vinícius in attack, who was returning after his game from suspension against Elche, and Vinícius was accompanied by the noise that he always carries with him. He overflowed many times, but he had a hard time with Moncayola, his marker, who spent a night of dogs, but also with Moi Gómez, with whom he faced at the edge of the break in an action that almost led to a general brawl and that ended with yellow cards for both, a Solomonic decision by Munuera Montero that neither team liked.
Already in the prolegomena, in the minute of silence for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and with Sadar in silence, the occasional serious insult was heard from the stands towards the Brazilian. The League had placed special surveillance to record if there were signs of racism against Vinícius.
With Osasuna pressing so high, Madrid did not feel comfortable at any time. If there was ever a pick and shovel game, this was the one against Sadar, with no team able to rule the game and with hardly any chances in the first half.
Madrid only enjoyed a clear one in the first 45 minutes, an internship by Vinícius in which he was left alone against Sergio Herrera and he beat him one-on-one. Osasuna's starting goalkeeper is Aitor Fernández but yesterday Arrasate chose Herrera because in the last two games against Madrid he had saved Benzema three penalties.
Osasuna also had a chance to take the lead, the most advantageous being a shot from Budimir that went wide near the break. Before, the impetuous Croatian striker had taken an easy shot from Lucas Torró.
The second half began with no player changes and with a poisonous shot from Rodrygo that brushed the post, his first serious intervention in the entire game.
It was immediately clear that Madrid had taken a step forward and was going for the match with a very pressing midfield and Ceballos more active. At 52 Vinícíus scored, but the goal was well disallowed because the Brazilian was clearly offside. At 57 Vinícius left Moncayola with another electric dribble, but again he missed in the one-on-one only against Sergio Hererra, who stole the ball with his foot.
There was half an hour ahead but Osasuna was not going to give up looking for their chances. As soon as he could, he went ahead and Moi Gómez was able to score with a shot that went to the base of the post.
Ancelotti changed Ceballos at 65 for Asensio to have a little more punch. Again Sergio Herrera took a third one-on-one from Vinícus. In minute 78, Madrid finally found the goal in a delayed pass from Vinícius and a shot from Valverde that burst into the area on assault and caught the defense by surprise.
Madrid's goal left an even more volcanic game. Osasuna asked for a penalty from Carvajal for giving him the ball on his arm, but neither the referee nor the VAR understood it that way. Before, Madrid had asked for another penalty. The youth player Álvaro Rodríguez entered and could not have done better. He gave Vinícius an assist, but the goal was disallowed by VAR. The Uruguayan did not break down and then stole another ball and gave it to Asensio who defined against Herrera. Now it was worth the goal. Three points for Madrid, which is five behind the leader.
