Real Madrid returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 victory over Osasuna at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The La Liga defending champions had a tough two weeks of bad press and previously endured back-to-back defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan in the Spanish League and Champions League respectively, before showing off a dominant display against a winning-stretched Osasuna side.
It was a bittersweet encounter for Carlo Ancelotti’s side who saw three first-team players taken off in the first half with serious injury concerns. The Galacticos showcased a brilliant performance with key players making their mark after massive criticisms in their previous games. Ballon D’or snub Vinicius Jnr scored a hat-trick to reignite Los Blanco’s admirations to reclaim the top spot in the Spanish League. Jude Bellingham was also on the scoresheet for Los Blancos for the first time this season.
Real Madrid came into the game three points above Osasuna, who soared up the La Liga table following victories against Real Sociedad, and Real Valladolid, and Chiclana in the Spanish Cup. Dani Pendin’s side traveled to Madrid with their full squad with only Juan Cruz sidelined with a foot injury. Carlo Ancelotti was adamant to disclose the new solution his Real Madrid team found in the pre-match conference following their poor results in the last two games at the Bernabeu. According to his comments, “Obviously we talked, we have analyzed the situation. We think we have found a solution, but it must be seen in practice”.
Real Madrid (still without Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Aurelien Tchouameni) had a very slow start to the game, and Carlo Ancelotti got more frustrated when Brazilian winger Rodrygo had to exit the game just 20 minutes after the kick-off with a muscle injury. Rodrygo returned to the starting line-up after enduring a hamstring injury in Barclona’s 4-0 victory. He made an appearance in the second half against AC Milan in the Champions League and would keep receiving treatment to assess the intensity of the new muscle strain. The Brazilian was replaced by Brahim Diaz, who set up Vinicius’ third goal in the game.
Ten minutes later, Eder Militao got stretched off the pitch in tears after getting himself (right foot) injured in the opposing box. The Brazilian was later confirmed to have torn his ACL and would miss the rest of the season. Callister player Raul Asensio stepped up to replace the center-back with Antonio Rudiger at his side. Real Madrid eventually got their first goal of the game, courtesy of Vinicius Jnr’s superb finish off a through pass from Jude Bellingham. The goal got the Bernabeu buzzing, and the Real Madrid player’s celebration said it all. In the 42nd minute, substitute Raul Asensio pulled off a beautiful long cross to Jude Bellingham who chipped over Sergio Herrera to score his first goal of the season after thirteen appearances. The Englishman’s goal was Madrid’s second and a perfect cap-off of an eventful first-half display.
The second half was more like the first for Osasuna. The visitors barely made successful attacks and mostly saw their quick breaks countered by a resilient Madrid defense. Eduardo Camavinga skyed a golden opportunity to put Los Blancos three goals up in the opening minute of the second half before Lucas Vazquez got replaced by Luka Modric, following signs of discomfort he showed in the last few minutes of the first 45 minutes. He is the third Real Madrid player to leave the game following a muscle injury.
Real Madrid saw more of the ball in the second half adding to the frustrations of Dani Pendin who looked tensed by his side’s performances. Kylian Mbappe was marked for most of the game but was unlucky in getting Madrid’s third after he hit the side netting in the 59th minute. Osasuna pressed Madrid’s defense to get back into the game but their efforts backfired when goalkeeper Andriy Lunin claimed a haul and made a long pass to Vinicius Jnr, who beat the last man with his pace and went around Sergio Herrera to score Madrid’s third goal of the game. Sergio Herrera saved Vinicius Jnr and Federico Valverde’s attempts within four minutes. The Spanish goalkeeper was helpless in Vinicius’ third goal in the 69th minute, following a defensive error that left him exposed at the backline.
Generally, it was a great display for Real Madrid who made improvements to their strategies following failed patterns against Barcelona and AC Milan. Madrid played a 4-3-3 formation which looked more like a 4-4-2 most times, with Vinicius Jnr and Kylian Mbappe operating more centrally. They caught the Osasuna defence with their fast-paced attacks which was vital in securing the second and third goals. Even after Eder Militao and Lucas Vazquez left the game, the defense looked solid and well-coordinated. But the bigger issue lies in the sustainability of Madrid’s defense which has suffered huge losses since the start of the season.
Losing Rodrygo and Éder Militão to injuries in the first half was a worrying sight for a team that already suffers from the consistent form this season. Both players recently returned from injuries and being pushed to such a workload has derailed their early recovery. Lucas Vázquez’s muscle issue forced him off at halftime, and increased Real Madrid’s injury count to seven, including three muscle-related injuries, raising concerns about the club’s medical and fitness staff. It’s crucial to examine the players’ preparation processes to mitigate these risks. While some cases, like Dani Carvajal’s, might be unavoidable, preventive measures could make a difference.
Éder Militão, who only recently recovered from an ACL injury in his other leg in April, has started almost every game this season, highlighting the need to evaluate workload and warm-up routines. With the squad already stretched thin, each injury significantly impacts Real Madrid. The issue has left the club with Antonio Rudiger as the only first-team pick at center back. The German’s minutes is also being regulated due to an ongoing knee issue he is experiencing. Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio might be seeing more of the center back roles in the upcoming games. Jesus Vallejo would have to step up in the role if he wished to have a long career in the capital. He has only played 10 minutes this season and the team conceded twice with him on the pitch. Up-front Carlo Ancelotti has Endric and Arda Guler to offer support to Mbappe and Brahim Diaz in the right wing.
Real Madrid’s win against Osasuna is a step in the right direction. They strengthened their position in second place in the La Liga but still trail Barcelona by a couple of points. Carlo Ancelotti will hope his players keep up with this performance when they face Arne Slot’s Liverpool and Atlanta in the Champions League after the international break. The club would also be wary of the potential risks of losing more valuable talents to injury while representing their individual countries.
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