Real Madrid have the chance to close the gap at the top of La Liga to five points on Saturday evening, when they travel to Pamplona to take on Osasuna.
They expect Marco Asensio to retain his place after his [goalscoring](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/02/15/watch-marco-asensios-solo-effort-gives-real-madrid-an-early-lead) exploits midweek, while Dani Ceballos is set to retain his place, with Eduardo Camavinga likely to drop out. Real Madrid are without key duo Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema for the fixture, but the big news is that Thibaut Courtois is set to start. [Sport](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/real-madrid/real-madrid-margen-error-sadar-83163729) expect a similar defence to the one that recorded a clean sheet at home to Elche on Wednesday, with Luka Modric installed to the starting line-up following a [goalscoring](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/02/15/watch-luka-modric-scores-stunner-as-real-madrid-add-a-fourth-against-elche) cameo against the league’s bottom side.
Osasuna host Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday 18 February with kick-off at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.
Osasuna are always up for a game against Real Madrid but they haven’t been in great form of late. Real Madrid know that there is no room for any more slip-ups if they are to have any chance of catching Barcelona. Osasuna host Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday 18 February with kick-off at 3:00 p.m. Jagoba Arrasate’s men are currently on a disappointing run of only one victory in their last eight in the league although they have progressed to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they will meet Athletic Club. El Sadar is known for being one of the more difficult away trips in Spain, although Getafe, Valencia, Barça and Atlético Madrid have all won in Pamplona this term. Osasuna have been one of LaLiga’s streakiest teams so far this season, having kicked off the campaign with four wins in their first five matches, immediately followed by just one win in six LaLiga games.
The confirmed Real Madrid starting XI is out As is always the case, Real Madrid have published their starting XI well ahead of kick off and its as fol.
This Osasuna vs Real Madrid match is starting at 21:00 CET, which is the local time in Spain. This Osasuna vs Real Madrid match is the big nighttime game in Spain, kicking off at 21:00 CET. What time does Osasuna vs Real Madrid start?
Osasuna vs Real Madrid LIVE: Follow all the action as Carlo Ancelotti's side aim to close the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona with visit to El Sadar Stadium.
They have a trip tp Liverpool to contend with on Tuesday, as their 2023 in the Champions League gets underway imminently. The official is trying to bring calm to the El Sadar Stadium. It's flagged for offside, but still promising from the hosts as they're spurred on by their fans. The referee's called a halt to the proceedings, but there's still action. The free kick amounts to nothing. High pressing game from the hosts works wonders again, and they get the ball. Three Osasuna names went into the book in the first half in Pamplona, while Vinicius Jr was cautioned for squaring up to an opponent. Still, very close to the opener for Real Madrid. Will he take off Vinicius Jr to protect him ahead of the Champions League? The ball over the top is too far for Vinicius Jr to chase, but the defender kicks it into him and it falls nicely. 62': That's the closest Osasuna have come to scoring! He tries to go around the keeper, but Osasuna's No.
Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio netted second-half goals as Real Madrid won 2-0 away to Osasuna to cut the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona to five ...
On the performance of Rodriguez, Ancelotti added: "He is a player that has lots of qualities. "He can help us as he did today. "We've played a good game, it was important to win and we leave happy to keep LaLiga alive," Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said. [Mallorca](/soccer/team?id=84) after midfielder [Manu Trigueros](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/158605/Manu-Trigueros) was sent off in the 21st minute, while [Real Betis](/soccer/team?id=244) beat [Real Valladolid](/soccer/team?id=95) 2-1 at home and [Celta Vigo](/soccer/team?id=85) grabbed a 1-1 draw away to [Real Sociedad](/soccer/team?id=89). [Karim Benzema](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema) missing through injury, [Vinicius Junior](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252107/Vinícius-Júnior) had to carry the creative burden for [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86) and though he eventually came up trumps for his team, he had to go through plenty of adversity to get there. [Federico Valverde](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/235818/Federico-Valverde) and [Marco Asensio](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/195821/Marco-Asensio) netted second-half goals as [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86) won 2-0 away to [Osasuna](/soccer/team?id=97) to cut the gap to LaLiga leaders [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) to five points, but the reigning champions had to battle all the way to get their victory.
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Osasuna have turned this game on its head in the last few minutes. It was a really worked goal from Los Blancos. It's not clear who was offside, but it may well have been Vinicius.
Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio were among the goals as Real madrid scraped a late 2-0 win over mid-table Osasuna.
But they couldn't find the net and were ultimately made to pay for it. Federico Valverde eventually grabbed the winner, bursting into the Osasuna box to sweep Vinicius Junior's cut-back into the far corner and continue his sudden bounce back Osasuna had the better chances in the first half on Saturday, forcing injury returnee Thibaut Courtois into a few neat saves.
With Karim Benzema absent, Real Madrid relied on tried and tested alternatives in attack, but 18-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez got an assist too.
Benzema has scored 16 goals this season (six of them from the penalty spot), Vinicius has also scored 16 (no penalties), Valverde has 12 (no penalties) and Rodrygo has 10 (three penalties). [The Athletic’s Spanish football coverage](https://theathletic.com/4064085/2023/01/09/barca-barcelona-real-madrid/) has expanded… It is another good option for Ancelotti, who knows that Benzema has already missed 15 games for the team this season, and that there is still a long way to go. [La Liga news](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/), [La Liga table](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/standings/); [La Liga fixtures and results](https://theathletic.com/football/la-liga/schedule/) [Dermot Corrigan](https://theathletic.com/author/dermot-corrigan/)is joined by four new writers… He acknowledged after the match that the youngster is likely to see further first-team opportunities, adding that he will talk to Raul himself to manage his minutes. In August, he reportedly opted to represent the South American country internationally but is yet to make a senior appearance. Rodriguez might only have been on the pitch for just over five minutes, but he impressed greatly and there was a great deal of talk about his effervescent influence. “Alvaro always speaks very highly of Raul,” his mother Pilar continued. It was Vinicius Jr who made Madrid’s first goal, cutting the ball back for Valverde. No such abuse has yet been reported from Saturday’s match, after which the player posted on social media: “The insults continue… He was jeered throughout the match. The 22-year-old Brazilian has received racist abuse from crowds in Spain on several occasions this season.
The home side managed to frustrate the Spanish champions until the 78th minute, when Federico Valverde arrived in the box to slide in Vinicius Junior's cross.
GK: Herrera (5); RB: Moncayola (5), CB: U. Garcia (6), LB: Sanchez (6); CM: Gomez (6), CM: Torro (6); RW: R. Garcia (4), CB: D.
Defending champions Real Madrid battled hard to seal a comprehensive 2-0 away triumph over Osasuna to cut the gap with La Liga leaders Barcelona to five ...
Vinicius set up Federico Valverde for the opening goal in the 78th minute before Asensio slammed home a pass from teenager substitute Alvaro Rodriguez in stoppage time to steer Madrid to triumph. The Brazillian then had the ball in the net for Real Madrid in the 52nd minute after a heated first half that witnessed four players booked, but the goal was chalked off when he was found to be offside when the ball was played into him. PAMPLONA: Defending champions Real Madrid battled hard to seal a comprehensive 2-0 away triumph over Osasuna to cut the gap with La Liga leaders Barcelona to five points.