Osasuna vs Real Madrid
Champions-elect Real Madrid only need 10 points from their next six matches starting against Osasuna this Wednesday night in order to win their second La Liga crown in the last three seasons.
Real Madrid have built a healthy lead over the rest of the chasing pack as they currently have 75 points while Barcelona, Sevilla, and defending titlists Atletico Madrid are all battling for second place with 60 points apiece.
They’ll be visiting Estadio El Sadar to take on Osasuna, who have shown improvement especially in 2022. Los Rojillos are placed ninth in the standings with 44 points and they’re hoping to stay there for the rest of this season.
The pre-match SBOTOP betting odds expect a routine Real Madrid win, but their reverse fixture against Osasuna indicates that the hosts can give them a run for their money.
Talking Points
Osasuna aiming for the top half finish
Osasuna have almost always finished in the mid-table, which is why their current standing is a huge step in the right direction.
Team manager Jagoba Arrasate was once compared to Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp as he has done well in maximising his lesser-known players. Such comparison is somehow warranted given their positive La Liga 2022 results.
Los Rojillos have been punching above their weight as they’ve won four of their last six. In the said stretch, they’ve collected wins over Villarreal, Levante, Alaves, and Valencia but have suffered heavy defeats against Barcelona and Real Betis.
Arrasate has drawn out steady production from his wily veterans all season long and their collective experience will play a huge role against the mighty Los Blancos for this upcoming match.
Ante Budimir and Chimy Avila are their top scorers with six goals and one assist each, while Kike has five goals and one assist. Budimir and Avila are expected to lead their frontline once more, while Kike is going to be their first option off the bench.
Defenders Juan Cruz and Jesus Areso are both unavailable due to injuries, leaving Arrasate with limited options at the back. So, we expect their back four to be the same with Aridane Hernandez, Davide Garcia, Nacho Vidal, and Jose Angel tasked to keep Real Madrid forwards at bay.
Real Madrid can further widen the gap
Since their El Clasico loss in March, Real Madrid have been firing on all cylinders. They’ve won three straight La Liga matches against Celta Vigo, Getafe, and Sevilla, while they’ve advanced to the Champions League semi-finals after winning over Chelsea.
They’re back on the winning track because Karim Benzema is injury-free again. The Frenchman has been a class of his own in the attacking department all season long with 37 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo has been a pleasant surprise lately for Los Blancos since he has scored in consecutive matches. Look for him and Vinicius Junior to join Karim Benzema out front.
Midfield enforcer Casemiro is returning from a one-match ban to possibly rejoin Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, while Lucas Vazquez, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal will continue to be their back four for the meantime.
History
The head-to-head matchup between Real Madrid and Osasuna is one-sided prior to Wednesday. In their last 37 meetings, Los Blancos have 24 victories, whereas Los Rojillos only won five times along with eight stalemates.
Los Blancos are unbeaten against Los Rojillos in their last 13 games (W9, D4) and they’ve kept three straight clean sheets against them. Osasuna’s last victory over Real Madrid dates back to 2011.
Real Madrid and Osasuna have two goalless draws in their last three encounters, including their reverse fixture in October, while their prior meeting last May 2021 was won by the former via a 2-0 scoreline as Eder Militao and Casemiro both scored between the 76th and 80th minute.
Betting Tip
Real Madrid are favoured to win by the La Liga 2022 odds. They are installed at 1.70 to win, while Osasuna are priced at 4.90 and chances for a draw are at 3.60 in the 1X2 market.
Los Blancos should get all three points here, but we don’t see this as an easy victory for them given the impressive form of the hosts.
This is unlikely to be another goalless affair like in their previous meeting in October. We’re expecting Real Madrid to score just enough to win this game, although Osasuna could score one too – making Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.91 an option to think about.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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