Copa del Rey: Don’t Rule Out David in This Battle with Goliath

Real Madrid vs Osasuna

Real Madrid face Osasuna on Saturday with silverware in view at the Copa del Rey final, but they’ll have to work hard to beat Los Rojillos, as Barcelona will testify.

The Blaugrana toiled to a 1-0 win over Osasuna at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, despite playing against ten men for most of the game, so Los Blancos can expect tough opposition. This is another huge game for the underdogs from Navarre and they will have a passionate following behind them in Seville, but it’s also a big deal for Los Blancos who have a crucial week ahead of them.

After losing 2-0 to Real Sociedad on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti’s La Liga title hopes have all but vanished but they have a Champions League semi-final against Manchester City on the horizon and they will be desperate to pick up this trophy before they encounter the Sky Blues. The Copa del Rey 2023 betting odds say Real should do the job and win their first Copa since 2014, but Jagoba Arrasate’s Osasuna will not be in Seville to make up the numbers.

Talking Points

Real’s Big Guns expected to be fit

Some silverware would take the heat off Ancelotti and he is hoping to have Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and David Alaba all fit for this final. Benzema has scored four in this competition and, while Vinicius Junior is a brilliant attacker he needs his mentor alongside him.

Benzema was left out of the match against Sociedad to protect him, given his fitness problems this season and the Frenchman will be ready to go. Ancelotti has also hinted that Modric should be available having missed the last two games with a muscular injury. The Croatian remains one of the most influential midfielders in European football and his guile may well be needed to open up a stubborn Osasuna defence. Wingback Alaba has been out since April with a thigh strain, suffered in the Champions League against Chelsea, and he too is in the reckoning.

The pre-match Copa del Rey 2023 news may be encouraging; but Los Blancos had a frustrating night against Sociedad, defender Eder Militao came under criticism for his role in La Real’s first goal while Dani Carvajal picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. Barcelona are about to win the league, 14 points ahead with five games remaining and so Real Madrid can now concentrate on the Copa del Rey and the Champions League… and the Copa is their best chance.

Osasuna to roll over…no way!

At SBOTOP odds of 4.43 to lift the trophy, while Los Blancos are at 1.16, Osasuna are clear underdogs in this showcase final, but head coach Arrasate has no doubt that his team, skippered by experienced defender Unai Garcia, will leave nothing on the pitch. Los Rojillos are a proud club, having spent 41 seasons in the top flight and 37 in the second tier of Spanish football and is one of just four in Spain, along with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, which is still owned by the club members.

Osasuna fought tooth and nail against Barcelona and held out until the 85^th minute, even though debutant centre-back Jorge Herrando was sent off on 22 minutes. It was the club’s seventh red card of the campaign and they were not derailed by the sending off, staying well organised, and only a brilliant finish from Jordi Alba broke through.

Los Rojillos went close themselves, through Iker Munoz and Lucas Torro and, with 33-year-old former Eibar striker, Kike Garcia, scoring five in the competition they have the ability to defend like tigers and strike like a cobra.

History

This is Osasuna’s second-ever Copa del Rey final appearance, losing to Real Betis in the 2005 final; while Real Madrid have won the competition 19 times, bettered only by Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao.

Osasuna have won only five of their last 42 meetings with Real Madrid, drawing ten and losing 27, but they did pick up a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier in this La Liga campaign. And, in terms of recent form they are not overshadowed, winning three of their last six matches while Real have won four.

Betting Tip

At 1.32 to win Los Blancos should have too much for Osasuna who can be backed at 2.97 for the double chance, win or draw. I expect Ancelotti’s team to endure, but they will have to work as hard as Barca did to beat these underdogs and I can see a tight first half taking the game all the way.

 

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