Osasuna vs Real Madrid | Spanish Primera Division | Matchday 16 | Preview
La Liga returns following its Christmas break, and Real Madrid are set to face Osasuna at Reyno de Navarra Stadium tonight at 21:00 CET. A victory would make the Whites leaders on the table.
Rafael van der Vaart, who was niggled throughout the week, has recovered in time for the match. Xabi Alonso has also returned to the squad list after missing the team’s previous game due to a suspension. Pepe, Guti and Van Nistelrooy are injured and Mahamadou Diarra is currently with Mali playing in the African Cup.
Strikers Carlos Aranda and Walter Pandiani missed Osasuna’s clashes with Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao, but they will be ready to face Real Madrid. Coach Jose Antonio Camacho will have more problems in defence given that he won’t be able to use Josetxo Romero (suspended) and the injured Oier Sanjurjo and Sergio. Nevertheless, important men like Azpilicueta, Monreal, Aranda and Delporte have recovered in time for the fixture.
Real Madrid and Osasuna have faced each other 62 times, resulting in 37 victories for the Whites, 13 draws and 12 victories for Osasuna. The Madridistas have scored 128 goals against Osasuna and conceded 63.
Real Madrid won the 2007/08 league title thanks to defeating Osasuna in Pamplona, while the latter team managed to stay in the First Division last season thanks to defeating the Whites.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Ramos, Albiol, Arbeloa, Marcelo, Metzelder, Garay
Midfielders: Gago, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Drenthe, Van der Vaart
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Benzema, Higuain
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