Real Madrid have enjoyed success in the Copa del Rey and the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in recent games, but now the attention switches back to the bread and butter of the league.
This weekend could prove to be a pivotal one in deciding the destination of the title. Los Blancos are up first against Osasuna this evening, while Atletico de Madrid face a difficult trip to Valencia. Barcelona, meanwhile, travel to Villarreal. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are six points adrift of Los Colchoneros, but have played a game less.
They should pick up three points against an Osasuna side struggling at the foot of the table. The visitors arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu just three points above the drop zone and with one win in the last nine fixtures. Madrid, on the other hand, have won their last three league games, scoring 13 along the way and not conceded a single goal.
Los Blancos will be wary Javi Garcia´s men though, having been held to a 2-2 draw back in December, when the nine-time European Cup winners had to fight back from 2-0 down.
Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is fit and available for the fixture having returned to the side against Bayern Munich. But Madrid do have some injury concerns and Ancelotti will rotate ahead of the crunch match in Munich on Tuesday. Pepe, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are all doubts with various knocks and illness. The lines of Asier Illarramendi, Raphael Varane and Alvaro Morata could all be given game time. For Osasuna, midfield duo Roberto Torres and Francisco Silva are suspended.
Probable line-ups:
Real Madrid
