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Real Madrid Osasuna match preview

Read Madrid take on Osasuna in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight and will want to build an advantage ahead of the tricky return trip in Navarra.

The two teams met just a few weeks ago in Pamplona, where Osasuna gave Los Blancos a real fight in a 2-2 draw.  A pair of goals from Oriol Riera gave the hosts a 2-0 lead before Carlos Ancelotti’s 10-man team fought back after Sergio Ramos had been given his marching orders.

Tonight’s visitors are in a rich vein of form at the moment and are currently on a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions including that draw with Los Blancos. Real were too passive in that match and will need to come out of the blocks quicker than they did against Celta Vigo at the weekend if they are to build a big lead in order to rest key players in the second leg with a busy schedule coming up.

Ancelotti knows Osasuna will set up defensively tonight and look to hit Real on the break, something the home side’s defense must be alert about. At the same time, Los Blancos will be eager to get forward at every opportunity. The Italian boss has said he will field his strongest team available, meaning we should see the likes of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ancelotti also said there may be a chance for Jese to prove himself with some valuable game time.

Probable Line-ups:

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Asier Illa, Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jesé Rodriguez.

Osasuna: Andrés, Marc Bertán, Jordan Lotiès, Alejandro Arribas, Joan Oriol, Patxi Puñal, Lolo, Âlvaro Cejudo, Roberto Torres, Emilano Armenteros, Oriol Riera.

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Real Madrid Osasuna betting preview

Real Madrid are currently embarking on busy schedule of three matches in six days, the second of those taking place tonight against Osasuna in the last-16 of the Copa del Rey.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men got off to a slow start against Celta Vigo at the weekend following the winter break, but eventually ran out 3-0 winners. With Los Blancos looking to chase down Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in La Liga, and with the Champions League resuming again next month, Real will want to build a big lead in the first leg in order to rest some key players when the teams lock horns again in Navarra in the return match.

The visitors tonight gave Real a fright when the teams met in La Liga last month, with Los Blancos coming from 2-0 down to share the spoils. But Osasuna’s form is not so great on the road – and the betting market reflects how little chance there is of the away team winning. Real can be found at 1/9 to win tonight, with Osasuna rank outsiders at 19/1. A draw can be found a price of 8/1.

Those interested on a flutter may be better of placing money on the goal markets, as matches at the Bernabeu this season have provided plenty of them. Some recent score lines at the iconic stadium this season include a 3-2, 4-2, 5-1 and  7-1.

Odd of 13/20 on four or more goals being scored look interesting, while six goals being scored can be found at a price of 13/2. If you think there’ll be seven or more goals in the match, that’s at 6/1.

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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Today, when the name Santiago Bernabeu is mentioned, it is in reference to the iconic football stadium where Real Madrid play their games. And until the end of time, the name of the ex-president of Los Blancos will always be first and foremost thought of as the stadium. But it hasn’t always been called that.

Indeed, when the team moved to the current Bernabeu in 1947, the stadium was known as New Chamartin. This was because the previous home of Real Madrid, which was christened Chamartin Stadium , was very close to the current ground. It was located parallel to the Padre Damian street, and not to the Paseo de la Castellana, like now.

Because of all the work Bernabeu had done for the club , Zapater and Caso, directors of Real Madrid at the time, decided to propose to the board to change the stadium name and call it the Santiago Bernabeu, as a surprise for the president.

The proposal was well received by the directors and on July 2nd 1955 the ground was officially renamed. As a result of this, Real Madrid has never forgotten the name of a man who was key in helping them take their first steps on the road to European Cup glory and bringing another legendary name to the Spanish capital – Alfredo di Stefano.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said Leo Messi’s return to the Barcelona team following two months out through injury is good news for La Liga.

The Argentina star, so many times a tormentor for Los Blancos, returned to the first team squad this month after overcoming a thigh injury sustained in November. Even in his absence, the Catalan side have continued to be pace setters in La Liga, and now Ancelotti says Tata Martino’s side will only get better.

Speaking to Sport, the Italian manager said having Messi return is good for La Liga because it is always better to have the best players on the world on show. But he added Madrid have to concentrate on closing the gap on Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid, no matter who lines up for their rivals.

“It’s good for Barca to have Messi recovered, and it’s good for the Spanish league to regain a player who has been very good and will continue to be,” he was quoted as saying.

“For us it improves the competition because, with Messi, Barca are Barca, and without they are another team. They’ve done very well without him and will do very well with him.
It doesn’t change much for us, we still hope to regain some points. If we win on Sunday, we will, because Atletico [Madrid] and Barca can’t both win.”

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Madrid press report 9-1-14

Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today on Xabi Alonso’s contract renewal with Real Madrid. “Xabi forever Blanco,” Marca titles.

“Great news for the Madridistas: he signs a two-year extension and ends speculation,” they point out.

Spanish daily As highlights Alonso’s message via Twitter: “This will be my home for two more years,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to announce this. I’m very happy. Hala Madrid!” he added.

Los Merengues will face Osasuna today in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last 16 round. As claims “Gareth Bale will return to the starting eleven.”

“Di Maria will seat on the bench after his controversial gesture,” they report. Marca states “Ancelotti aims to protect Di Maria from the Santiago Bernabeu’s crowd by leaving him on the bench.”

“Jese’s night,” is Marca’s main headline. The most sold Spanish newspaper claims “Ancelotti rewards the youngster with a spot in the starting eleven in a tricky match.”

* Follow Real Madrid News on Twitter

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Real Madrid legend Raul has been offered the chance to return to the club as a member of the technical staff, reports have suggested.

Mundo Deportivo and El Confidencial claimed the club’s president Florentino Perez met with the 36-year-old when Los Blancos travelled to Qatar to take on Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly earlier this month. Raul, who scored 323 times in 741 games for the club, currently plies his trade for Al-Sadd.

He still has another year to go on is deal in the Middle East, but could be tempted by the opportunity to link up with former team mates Zinidine Zidane, Guti, Fernando Morientes, Ruben de la Red and Santi Solari in the Spanish capital.

At the start of the season, Raul was given a hero’s welcome as he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since he left to play in a friendly between Real and his current club. The former Spain international won six La Liga title and three Champions League trophies in his time at the nine-time European Cup winners.

He ended his spell at the club in 2010 when he signed for German outfit Schalke, the team Madrid will face in the next stage of this season’s Champions League.

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Iker Casillas baby

Iker Casillas has presented his first child to the world, publishing a picture of himself holding little Martin on his personal website.

His partner Sara Carbonero gave birth to Martin on January 3rd, just three days before the night of the Three Kings, when Spanish kids get their presents.

On January 6th, Casillas posted a picture together with this message: “Whoever thought that the best present I would receive from the Three Kings would not be when I was a child but right now when I’m 32 years old? Welcome to my world, Martin.”

Real Madrid’s goalkeeper also published the following statement:

Hello, I would like to share with you the most important and thrilling moment of my life: the birth of my son. After long months of wait, Martin is already here. He’s weighted 3.850 kilograms and both him and his mother are perfectly fine.

I’m tremendously happy that this moment has finally come and that everything has gone so well. There’s no doubt 2014 has started off on the right foot.”

Martin already has his first Real Madrid kit, as Casillas has explained. He was brought to the world at Clinica Ruber by Dr Elena Carrillo de Albornoz, the same doctor that assisted Penelope Cruz on her daughter’s birth.

* Follow Laura Martinez on Twitter @Lauram_ti

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Chelsea winger Juan Mata could join Real Madrid this month should Los Blancos decide to cash in on Angel di Maria, according to reports.

Spain’s Sport newspaper and Le 10 Sport in France both claimed the unhappy Blues star may return home to La Liga as he looks to force his way into Spain’s World Cup squad. The former Valencia player has found himself frozen out at Stamford Bridge this season, and although Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United have an interest in Mata, boss Jose Mourinho does not want to sell him to a direct rival.

Meanwhile, the future of Angel di Maria has been up in the air for a while and he could leave the Santiago Bernabeu should the right offer come along. As far back as last summer he was linked with a move away from the Spanish capital, with former club Benfica said to be interested in resigning him.

Di Maria was believed to be keen on a switch following the arrival of Isco and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid, meaning his first team opportunities would be hard to come by. The 25-year-old has found himself in hot water this week for a gesture he made in the match against Celta Vigo, in which he was booed by some sections of the Madrid faithful.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted there will be no arrivals or departures this month, but with the World Cup on the horizon both di Maria and Mata may see the January window as a good time to make a move happen to secure their places in their respective squads for the tournament in Brazil.

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Premier League leaders Arsenal will face competition from Liverpool for the signature of Alvaro Morata this month, according to reports in the UK press.

Wide spread reports have suggested Arsene Wenger wants to sign the Real Madrid forward on loan for the rest of the campaign to bolster his forward options having lost Theo Walcott to injury for the rest of the season. The Gunners, who are looking to lift the league trophy for the first time since 2004, are also without Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, and only have Olivier Giroud as the club’s recognised forward.

The Mirror and Telegraph have reported the Gunners have already made an approach for the Spain Under-21 international, despite Real’s insistence that no one will be arriving or leaving the Santiago Bernabeu during the transfer window.

Now, Italian website Tuttomercatoweb has claimed Brendan Rogers wants to add Morata to his squad as the Reds chase a first title win since 1990. The website said the Anfield side had made an approach for the player but it was unclear whether it was an offer or simply an inquiry as to his availability.

Carlo Ancelotti and the Real directors see Morata as an important part of the team in the long-term, but a spell away from the Spanish capital getting regular first team football would help his development.

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Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has once again attacked former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho over his team’s style of play.

The now Chelsea manager spent three years at the Santiago Bernabeu where he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey. But his time at the club will more likely be remembered for his high profile run-ins with his own players including Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos as well as his acrimonious relationship with Barcelona, where he started his career as a translator for Bobby Robson.

The self-proclaimed “Special One” has won two European Cups, one with Porto and one with Inter Milan, but Xavi said in an interview with Panenka magazine that Mourinho does not leave a lasting legacy wherever he goes.

“Pep Guardiola is an important person for me – Jose Mourinho is a coach who focuses only on results,” Xavi stated.

“He says he is ‘The Special One’ because he won this and that in so many countries but I do not like the way his teams play.  Who remembers the Inter side who were champions of Europe? For me, he has not left a legacy, unlike Cruyff has in the Netherlands,” he added.

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