Real Madrid wants to sustain the streak at the start of its 'marathon'

Real Madrid wants to sustain the streak at the start of its 'marathon'

The whites, already with Benzema, start the string of matches in October and November against a serious Osasuna, where rotations will be key

   MADRID, 1 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid receives Osasuna this Sunday (9:00 p.m.), on matchday 7 of LaLiga Santander and after the national team break, with the aim of not losing momentum and maintaining its positive dynamics to continue at the top when two months arrive ' marathoners' in terms of game volume, against a very serious and fresh red team in European positions.

Carlo Ancelotti's team has proven to be the most reliable and solid so far this season, with nine wins in nine official matches. And he has achieved it thanks to a versatile squad, capable of using different registers, depending on the proposal that his rivals put forward to stand up to the whites.

The merengue team could add their fifth consecutive win against Osasuna so far this season, to put themselves behind one of the best stagings of Real Madrid in its entire history, some 60 years ago -1961-62 and 1968-69-. And to get closer to that appetizing record, the first rival will be an Osasuna against whom they have not lost since January 2011.

Real Madrid suffered the blow of the injury to its captain and lighthouse, Karim Benzema, before the break, forcing Ancelotti to invent a new '9', given the little, almost zero, confidence in Mariano. Hazard did not finish carburizing as a reference, so the chosen one was Rodrygo Goes, who has performed, even above expectations, scoring in two of the three games that the Frenchman missed -Mallorca, Leipzig and Atlético-.

But the good news for the Italian coach is that the Frenchman is back, fully recovered from his thigh injury, after having worked throughout the break so that the team and the fans can enjoy "usual" Benzema, just as as Ancelotti advanced in a press conference, assuring that he will start this Sunday. With him, Real Madrid will recover the fluid combinations in attack, the leadership of the '9' and his fruitful connection with a Vinicius who continues to grow by leaps and bounds, a non-negotiable duo for the coach.

Ancelotti also confirmed that Luka Modric will rest this weekend due to muscular overload with Croatia, so Camavinga, Vavelde or Ceballos could take his place. If the Uruguayan occupies a place in the trio of midfielders, Rodrygo could be the option on the right, while Asensio and Hazard wait their turn. With Lucas Vázquez still immersed in his recovery, Carvajal, perhaps with some fatigue after playing with Spain, aims to start.

The Madrid coach could make several rotations considering that this Sunday begins the 'marathon' of matches for the next long month, with matches every three days. Real Madrid will play against Shakhtar after receiving Osasuna, with another day of the League (Getafe) and the Champions League (Leipzig) before playing the Bernabéu Clásico against Barça, which could be key to arriving with a sufficient 'mattress' before of the World Cup break.

"It is an important moment of the season, we play many games in a short time. A very important second half begins, there are League and Champions League games, we have to think that rotating is important. In this period, the League can be put on track, reach the round of 16 of Champions... It would be important. I see the team well, motivated, as always", analyzed Ancelotti.

Opposite will be an Osasuna that has completed a very serious start to the competition, above the expected level, to place sixth, in European positions, with 12 points. His second defeat of the course came at home on the last day, against Getafe. A painful 0-2 that stopped and calmed the red joy before the break, which they took advantage of to recharge their batteries and arrive fresher for the game against Real Madrid, with many more international players than the Navarrese.

However, Osasuna has gone 18 years without winning at the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium in which Arrasate pointed out that they must start "with personality", because otherwise "you are dead" in one of their cursed fields. However, getting something positive out of the duel against the meringues would reinforce and confirm their good start, aware that they have much more to gain than lose, something that could be an asset in their favor.

Arrasate recovers Budimir for this match, but he will not be able to count on 'Chimy' Ávila, sanctioned for being expelled against Getafe. Rubén Peña could have minutes, like Moncayola, who since his ankle injury is not having as much prominence. The difficulty of the rival could make the rojillo coach experiment with a five-back system, and wait for Real Madrid to fall further behind.

REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Kroos, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema and Vinicius.

OSASUNA: Herrera; Nacho Vidal, David Garía, Unai García, Juan Cruz, Manu Sánchez; Nougat, Brasanac; Moi Gómez, Rubén García and Budimir.

--REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (Balearic C.).

--Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

--TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.