La Liga 2011-12 preview: Real Madrid Vs Osasuna

Real Madrid will host Osasuna on Sunday, November 6, 2011 in La Liga.

Real Madrid are coming off a 1-0 away win against Real Sociedad in their last La Liga match. Higuaín scored in the 9th minute to give Madrid an early lead and that was enough to secure three game points for the visitors. The goal was achieved after Fabio Coentrao advanced from his left-back position and who delivered a perfect pass to Higuaín who collected the ball over Claudio Bravo’s forward, in the Society’s goal. The Society gave a better account of itself in the second half, but it hardly bothered Madrid, which continued to be dominant at all times and, in fact, had the bad luck of missing a few more opportunities to score, especially those of Sergio Ramos, Say Maria and Ronaldo.

Osasuna beat Levante 2-0 in the league game last week. Levante, who had a seven-game unbeaten streak, suffered their first defeat of the season and were forced to give up their top spot on the points table. Álvaro Cejudo put the locals ahead in the 40th minute and Nino made it 2-0 a few minutes later. The hosts were reduced to 10 men when Cejudo was sent off, with a second yellow, after the break, but had no difficulty keeping Levante’s attack at bay, although Kone and Suárez came close to scoring.

Head to head, the teams have met in 20 league games in the last 10 years; Real Madrid have won 12 of those times, while Osasuna has won 5, with the remaining 3 matches tied. The teams last met in January, in a match organized by Osasuna, and the hosts won 1-0.

Real Madrid, who are currently at the top of the points table, have won 8 of their last 10 games, with a loss and a draw completing the tally. Osasuna, eighth ranked, has won 3 and lost 2 of its last 10, and the remaining 5 games ended in a draw.

Madrid have had a perfect record at home this season, winning all four games played so far; Osasuna has drawn three and lost 2 of 5 away games.

Real Madrid’s starting eleven against the Society: Iker Cassilas, Fabio Coentrao, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Coca, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil, Lassana Diarra, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuaín.

Osasuna’s starting eleven against Levante: Andrés Fernández, Sergio, Lolo, Jukka Raitala, Marc Bertran, Raúl García, Javad Nekounam, Francisco Punal, Ibrahima Balde, Juan Francisco Martínez and Álvaro Cejudo.