Real Madrid

Real Madrid will finish the first half of the league season at the Reyno de Navarra. The Whites, who will be playing their first away match of 2013, are hoping to put the finishing touches to a first week of competition in which they have already won their other two matches. The tough atmosphere that there always is at Osasuna’s ground as well as Mendilibar’s team’s need to score points because of being at the foot of the table complicate the task. The visitors’ absences will do too. Ronaldo, Adan and Ramos will be missing due to suspension, while Pepe is injured. Nevertheless, Real Madrid, who have played their last two matches with a player less for a lot of minutes, have demonstrated a unique motivation and an improvement in their game. They need to back this up against Osasuna.

"We need to enjoy the winning feeling again so that we have the confidence to get the results and achieve our aims", said Casillas in the first press conference of 2013. Real Madrid are meeting their captain’s expectations and despite playing their two matches this year with a player less for lots of minutes, have regained the security in their game and are winning.

BOTH TEAMS’ LEAGUE RECORDS BEFORE MATCH DAY 19
			HOME				AWAY
	Pos.	Ptos	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L
Real Madrid	3º	36	9	7	2	0	9	4	1	4
Osasuna	20º	14	9	2	3	4	9	1	2	6

This evening, against Osasuna, they hope to continue improving in terms of their style of play and results. It will be the first away match of 2013, and their third in just six days (Real Sociedad and Celta were the previous two) and the last of the first half of the league season. The tough atmosphere that there always is at Osasuna’s ground as well as Mendilibar’s team’s need to score points because of being at the foot of the table complicate the task.

Jose Mourinho has picked 20 players for the match. The absentees from the Portuguese coach’s squad are significant. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored five goals in two matches in 2013, Ramos and Adan have not travelled due to suspension, while Pepe has not done so due to injury. On the positive side are the returns of Xabi Alonso, Marcelo and Coentrao, who have recovered from their injuries, and the inclusion of academy players Tomas Mejias and Jose Rodriguez .

Osasuna have been reinforced by Ricardo and De la Cuevas in the January transfer window
Experience is what Osasuna have bought in the January transfer window in an attempt to try to get out of their difficult situation. The return of goalkeeper Ricardo and the loan of former Sporting Gijon player De las Cuevas bring experience to a team that are occupying the wooden spoon spot after stringing together four matches without a win (having lost three of them by one goal and drawing the other), although they are only two points from safety.
 

LEAGUE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TEAMS
	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
Real Madrid	69	41	15	13	144	68
Osasuna	69	13	15	41	68	144

"It will be a match of life and death. The fans want to see us react and show what we can do. Nothing is impossible, and even more playing at home with our fans behind us", said the forward Joseba Llorente recently. Real Madrid will try to avoid that and to continue in the same vein that they have started 2013.