Osasuna 0 : 0 Real Madrid - Stalemate piles pressure on Jose

Posted Saturday, January 12, 2013 by PA

The pressure on Jose Mourinho is set to increase after a poor performance by Real Madrid saw them come away from bottom side Osasuna with just a point after a goalless draw.

It was a miserable night for Madrid, who were without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, with Kaka sent off 19 minutes after coming on as a substitute while Jose Maria Callejon had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside decision.

The result means Madrid are 15 points behind Primera Division leaders Barcelona, who play Malaga on Sunday, and four behind neighbours Atletico.

Indeed, Osasuna could have won given they had the better of the second half but their final ball continually let them down.

Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who had been dropped by Mourinho for the last two league games, returned to the side with replacement Antonio Adan suspended following his red card last time out.

They were though without Ronaldo, suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last week, and his absence was keenly felt.

There was little of note in the opening stages with neither team creating any clear openings.

Osasuna's Damia had the first shot which went wide and it took until the 25th minute for Madrid to have an effort on goal, Angel di Maria firing past the post.

Madrid were finding it a struggle to get in behind the hosts' defence and when Fabio Coentrao found himself unmarked on the left of the area, rather than provide a crisp pass to the onrushing Gonzalo Higuain, the defender headed the ball into the ground and the hosts cleared.

Callejon's back header narrowly cleared the bar for Madrid and as the half wore down, Osasuna midfielder Alvaro Cejudo blazed a half-volley high and wide.

Madrid failed to take advantage of a good chance in the final minute when Callejon set up Coentrao with the goalkeeper out of position but he fired wide.

The second half started much as the first ended with plenty of possession for Madrid but no clear openings.

Two quick-fire corners for Osasuna ended with Manuel Lolo heading over when he could have directed it across Casillas and into the far corner but the hosts were enjoying a threatening spell, Emiliano Armenteros forcing the goalkeeper to go down to his left.

The tempo of the game had risen considerably and Osasuna sensed they could take all three points, an outcome that appeared more possible when Madrid were reduced to 10 men.

Kaka had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he got booked and when he did not retreat so Osasuna could take a quick free-kick, he was given a second yellow in the 77th minute.

However, it was Madrid who thought they had taken the lead moments later but Callejon was adjudged to have been offside although it was a borderline decision.

Karim Benzema forced Fernandez to go down to collect his shot in Madrid's first shot on target in the second half but it was one of the last kicks of a miserable game for the visitors.