Cristiano Ronaldo (OL v Real Madrid)
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
REAL MADRID  Casillas Diarra, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa Xabi Alonso, Khedira Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo Higuain | OSASUNA  Fernandez Raitala, Lolo, Sergio, Bertran Damia, Raul Garcia, Nekounam, Punal Nino Balde |
Real Madrid will be without Ricardo Carvalho who is not fully match-fit while Fabio Coentrao is a major doubt after a picking up a muscular strain in the 2-0 win over Lyon midweek.
With fellow left-back Marcelo also ruled out, Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to return to the starting line-up after recovering from a niggle, although Kaka is likely to sit out, with Mesut Ozil resuming his role in attacking midfield.
Lassana Diarra could continue at right-back due to Madrid's defensive problems, while Gonzalo Higuain is favourite to be handed the lone striker role after missing the club's Champions League victory on Wednesday.
Jose Luis Mendilibar will be looking to make minimum changes from the side who beat La Liga's former leaders Levante last weekend. However, the coach will be forced into replacing the suspended Alvaro Cejudo, with Damia a candidate to take his place in midfield.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Real Madrid have lost only two of their 33 La Liga games against Osasuna, winning 26 of these encounters and drawing five.
- Jose Mourinho's men have won all of their games at home this season, whilst averaging 4.25 goals per match in the Spanish top flight.
- Mesut Ozil is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Madrid in La Liga this season.
- Osasuna suffered their biggest ever defeat in the league against Real Madrid in 1958-59, losing 8-0, the same scoreline by which they lost to Barcelona earlier on this season.
- Jose Luis Mendilibar's men were the last team to avoid defeat against Madrid after going behind in the league (winning 2-1 in May 2009). The Spanish giants have won 68 games since then.
- Osasuna have scored the most headed goals in La Liga this season (five), level with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
Prediction
Despite Osasuna's recent good form, it is hard to imagine anything other than a home victory for Jose Mourinho's men who are in search of a seventh straight win in La Liga. Madrid have a few injury problems, but there should be more than enough quality on the pitch to get the job done in Sunday's early kick-off.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna 
