Real Madrid seeks to confirm its good week, with away victories against Girona and Naples, with another victory, this time against Osasuna at the Bernabéu, which would allow it to maintain the leadership achieved in Montilivi for the second week. Osasuna is a rival that makes the whites suffer a lot. The Rojillos tied in their last two league visits to the Bernabéu and were a very uncomfortable opponent in the last Cup final at La Cartuja in Seville, won by Ancelotti's team with great difficulty (2-1).
Two weeks after the setback in the Metropolitano derby, Madrid seems to have regained the wind in its favor. The Vinícius-Bellingham connection seems very important and Rodrygo's lack of a goal is seen as a lesser evil. "For now we haven't needed his goals to win," the Italian coach said yesterday.
The biggest problem that is pointed out in Madrid is its defensive fragility. He receives a lot of goals because he concedes a lot at the back and for tomorrow he only has one centre-back, Rüdiger, given that Nacho is suspended, Alaba has not been able to make the squad because he has not yet recovered and Militão is still out for many months due to his broken knee. crossed. Ancelotti has included a Castilla centre-back, Carrillo, on the list, but the normal thing is that Tchouaméni or Mendy plays alongside Rüdiger.
All in all, it is difficult to guess Madrid's lineup because after the effort at the Maradona stadium, rotations are expected, although the Italian coach is quite unpredictable in that regard and injuries do not leave him much room. Fran García, Modric and Brahim could return to the eleven. Up front, Joselu could send Rodrygo to the bench.
Osasuna comes to Madrid in a good state of mind after winning in Vitoria last Sunday, which makes it the third best visitor in the championship after having added three wins out of four possible. The rojillos are right in the middle of the table (tenth), their disappointment of not getting into European competitions already forgotten.
“The mood has changed this week. A victory changes your mood and, from there, we know that it is one of the most complicated fields, but we have already been able to do it well,” said Joseba Arrasate, one of the longest-serving Primera coaches, yesterday.
Arrasate fears tomorrow's rival's ability to come back: “They start losing, but they have the peace of mind to turn the result around. There are moments where you think you have your day, but in the blink of an eye... I don't know how they do it, it's probably their DNA. When they play well they beat you, but there are times when they don't need it,” he commented at a press conference. Osasuna has not won at the Bernabéu since 2004. Tomorrow, Chimy Ávila's return after serving his suspension is his main offensive novelty.
In Madrid, Ancelotti arrives at the game upset by the criticism that Vinícius has received from Valencia for the racist incidents last season at Mestalla. At a press conference he distilled his argument once again: "They are trying to divert the shot. Vinícius was the victim of racist insults. It doesn't matter if there were one or ten. There is a judicial procedure. There are media that want to divert the shot from this and I don't care. sorrow and rage."
Ancelotti also assured that if Madrid played in Valencia, the Brazilian player would be called up: "Of course I would take Vinícius. I have not spoken with him about his statement yesterday. Nobody knows what he said. But he is very well, very motivated and happy to play tomorrow," he said.
