Real Madrid Vs Osasuna: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Osasuna at home in the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in the La Liga match day 34. The last Real Madrid game was against Chelsea which was a Poor display in the mid field, it was a tough draw.

The team rating for the match against Chelsea can be found here: Team Rating

Currently Real are a recovering side, with several regulars joining back after injury but they need to win at any cost to have any chance of winning the league. 

Earlier the away game was a 0-0 Draw, it was the game played during the snow storm. 

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Carvajal
2. Lucas Vazquez

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Ramos
2. Mendy
3. Valverde
4. Kroos
5. Hazard
6. Modric

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• None

Coach Comments:

• Zidane: "Coming out alive? Yes and no, the first half was bad but we recovered in the second half and did well. It's a fair result." 

Other Comments:

• Marcelo: "The 2nd leg will be different. We ended today's game with our heads help up high."
• Roberto Carlos: "We have 13 Champions League trophies, always with humility. But the history of this shield allows us to go to London and look ahead. Chelsea have played at a very high level. The referee, perfect. When you only talk about football, it's easier."

Squad Updates:

This will be the Forty seventh game of the season and Real have been inconsistent in the matches and the results, they have had 27 wins, 11 Draws and 8 losses. In the last few games the performance has been poor especially in attack except the last game and with this ailing team it is not making it any easier.

Osasuna are a good side and are good in attack, so Real will need to be careful and be ready for their counters.

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in a good form. He has supported the defense really well but has not received the same from the team and with so many changes due to injury it is getting tough.

Marcelo should start on the left in absence of Mendy, who could play as a substitute if is available post recovery from his injury . As Ramos is returning he might get some minutes, but will not start. Nacho should start along with Militao and Varane. Carvajal is now back and will play. So Marcelo, Varane, Militao, Nacho and Carvajal should start. Odriozola, Mendy, Miguel and Chust should be available as substitutes.

Modric and Kroos have been off pace and looked tired in the last game but have been exceptional before that both might do good with some rest. So, Isco and Blanco should start along with Casemiro. Modric, Arribas, Valverde and Kroos should be available on the bench.

The forwards have been poor all season except last game, Hazard is back but will not start and Vinicius should start on the left. And Benzema should start upfront.  Asensio, Mariano, Rodrygo and Hazard should start from the Bench.

As there are 5 substitutions available, ZZ should think for more changes in the second half if the score is conducive especially taking into account the team's fatigue.

The probable substitutions will be: 

Vinicius > Hazard

Isco > Modric/Valverde

Marcelo > Mendy/Asensio

Blanco > Kroos

Benzema > Rodrygo

So the formation would be 3 5 2 and change to 4 3 3 later with substitutes.

The most probable kit to be used for the game will be the home kit!!!

So the final starting 11 will be:

Carvajal OUT <> Odriozola IN

Carvajal is injured and possibly out for remainder of the season.

Osasuna Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Osasuna away from home in the La liga match day 18. The last Real Madrid game was against Celta Vigo which was great result after a good display in midfield but there were several opportunities wasted by the forwards. 

The team rating for the match against Celta can be found here: Team Rating

This is one of the important league matches of the season as there is already a gap at the top. Real have no option but to win this fixture so that they remain in the title race. 

Last year this fixture was a 1-4 Win.

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Rodrygo

Suspended:

1. Carvajal

Just recovered:

1. Ramos
2. Jovic

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• None

Coach Comments:

• We're doing the right things and we have to keep it up.
  

Other Comments:

• Nacho did really well filling in for Ramos.

Squad Updates:

This will be the Twenty fourth game of the season and Real have been inconsistent in their performances, they have 14 wins, 4 Draws and 5 losses. In the last few matches the performance has improved but in the last couple of games finishing was poor they had 25 shots of which 8 were on target and still just 3 goals, efficiency needs to improve a lot.  

Osasuna has had a poor run of form, there last win was 9 games ago but they can be very cagey in defense. So, Real will need to be very careful to score goals. 

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in a decent form. He has not been great but his performance has been fine. He has supported the defense really well.

Mendy should start on the left. Ramos and Varane will start as the center backs. But as Carvajal is suspended Odriozola will start on the right. So Mendy, Ramos, Varane and Odriozola should start. Defense has been in fine form but errors have led to goals in all the games where we have conceded. Without Marcelo the defense looks better.. So, he should start on the bench and only come in the second half to provide any relief to Mendy.

Modric has been amazing but is lacking support from the attack. He would start, and so should be Kroos. So, Kroos, Casemiro and Modric should start. Ødegaard, Valverde and Isco should start from the bench. ZZ should look to give more minutes to others and have the substitutions early in the second half.

The forwards have been poor in the last game, they have been wasting several chances in front of the goal. Hazard may be available on the bench, but without match fitness Asensio should start on the left, Benzema upfront and Lucas Vazquez on the right. So, Vinicius, Hazard and Jovic should start from the bench.

As there are 5 substitutions available, ZZ should think for more rotations in the second half especially taking into consideration that the team's fitness.

The probable substitutions will be: 

Asensio > Hazard

Modric > Ødegaard/Valverde

Kroos > Isco/Valverde

Mendy > Marcelo

Lucas Vazquez > Jovic/Vinicius

So the formation would be 4 3 3.

The most probable kit to be used for the game will be the home kit!!!

So the final starting 11 will be:

Osasuna vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Osasuna away from in the La liga match day 23. Osasuna are 11th on the leader-board and Real are top of the league. This is a chance for Real to return back to winning ways and as the gap at the top is very narrow, Madrid is not going to take any risks this time.

Looking at the 

Injury list:

1. Asensio

Only Asensio is injured. ANd he has not been practicing with the team. He has started individual workouts now. We hope his recovery is faster and soon he starts playing with the team.

There were few players out with flu like Casemiro, Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez.

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Bale and Hazard

Both have started practicing with the team but still a doubt to play as starters.

Practiced:

Asensio is on his recovery process. Others are practicing with the team.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

• None.

Other Comments:

• This is a crucial game and the team had a very bad outing in the last match and need to improve to keep the spirits high.

Squad Updates:

This is a crucial game for the La liga title race.

In the goal Courtois will start and will start fresh after the rest during the Copa del Rey game, he had several good games in the past, things look definitely very positive for Courtois and Real Madrid. Areola was very poor in the goal during the Copa del Rey game and was one of the week links but with Courtois back things should be better.

Ramos and Varane will start as the center backs. Mendy will start on the left after the rest during the last game and Carvajal will start on the right. So Mendy, Ramos, Varane and Carvajal should start. Defence has been in good form except the poor outing in the last game. Though the whole defence will be changed, Marcelo and Nacho were very poor last time out and with the changes it is expected to prevent the usual errors those have led to the goals in the past games.

All the five super mid-fielders are doing great, Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Isco and Casemiro. It is a very difficult decision for ZZ. Taking the past game's rigor and current fitness level into considerations it is going to be Modric, Casemiro and Kroos in the middle. James and Valverde will be on the bench. And Isco will start in the attack.

As Asensio has been injured, Bale and Hazard have just recovered, both would not start. After several injuries and returns it will be Benzema, Vazquez and Isco to start. And Bale, Jovic and Vinicius should be on the bench. 

So the formation would be 4 3 2 1, with Isco and Vazquez behind Benzema.

So the final starting 11 will be:

Real Madrid Vs Osasuna: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against the Osasuna at home, currently they are 10th on the leader-board and Madrid on 3rd.

The point to note is Osasuna is still unbeaten this season.

First I would like to see the injury list:

1.     Asensio

2.     Mendy

Suspended:

1.     None

Just recovered:

1.     Marcelo

2.     Isco

3.     Modric

Practiced:

All except the injured lot.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

•  Players need to be fully fit and take enough training sessions

  

Other Comments:

•  Bale rested for Atletico clash this weekend
• Too early for Marcelo, Isco and Modric to start

So, there are going to be at least two changes as Bale and Mendy are not in the squad.

As Mendy is injured, this would have the same Mendy replaced by Nacho. Rest of the defence will remain the same. Though I would have liked Odriozola to start in place of Carvajal, but Zidane probably wont gamble, given the defence had just performed the best in the last match.

Mid-field will start with Casemiro and Valverde will substitute him in the second half to keep him ready and give some rest for next match.

So mid-field will have Kroos, Casemiro and James.

Hazard, Benzema and Lucas V should start. And will have Vinicius and Jovic as substitutes for Hazard and Benzema.

So the effective line up should be: