Some notable names make a return for Real Madrid in time ahead of the resumption of Champions League football and we can expect most of them to feature on Saturday against Osasuna.
Zinedine Zidane will have sights set on Wednesday’s Champions League visit of Napoli but it’s unlikely he’ll make wholesale changes to the starting XI against Osasuna.
Real Madrid sit just a point clear of Barcelona at the top of the table and anything other than three points will put undue pressure on future fixtures for Los Blancos, even if they have two games in hand.
With a victory over Alaves, Barcelona could briefly take top spot and with them expected to continually pressurize their Clasico rivals Real will be expected to deliver.
Los Blancos owing to last week’s fixture being postponed have had two complete weeks off and yet sit one point clear off Barcelona at the top of the table with two games in hand.
The break has allowed Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal to return to full fitness in time ahead of the Champions League.
Toni Kroos serves his one match suspension having picked up five yellow cards for the season. The likes of Modric could be saved for the Champions League tie in favour of a start for James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic who returned to training with the first-team regulars on Friday.
Gareth Bale remains out of the reckoning although Zidane will hope the Welshman can return in time for Wednesday’s clash and will pin his hopes of Lucas Vasquez once again to fill in at Pamplona. Marcelo is expected to return to action after having suffering an injury in his side’s 2-1 victory over Malaga.
