Real Madrid vs Osasuna preview - Ancelotti could show Munich hand

Posted Friday, April 25, 2014 by PA

Carlo Ancelotti may show some of his Champions League hand when Real Madrid switch their focus back to the Primera Division on Saturday.

After beating Bayern Munich to go 1-0 up in their European semi-final on Wednesday, Los Blancos are on home soil again, this time against Osasuna.

The challenge against them is to reduce Atletico Madrid's lead at the top of the table to three points before they play Valencia on Sunday.

Real have played a game less than their cross-city rivals but, with Atleti running hot, their best chance of adding to the Copa del Rey appears to be in the Champions League.

They will head to Munich after this game and during the 90 minutes, Ancelotti may show what he is thinking for that meeting.

He started with Gareth Bale on the bench on Wednesday, with the flu-ridden former Tottenham man replacing the world's best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, when he was withdrawn midway through the second half.

Now, ahead of a vital return in Germany, all eyes are on how Ancelotti handles his two Galacticos.

"The only risk was that the muscle would be tired so we were always planning on substituting him (Ronaldo). It's normal that after 20 days out he was not going to be at 100 per cent," Ancelotti said of the Portugal international not seeing the Bayern game out.

"Cristiano put in a great shift, he was completely sure he could play and luckily everything worked out nicely. He wasn't in optimum shape, though.

"Without Bale and with Ronaldo at only 50 per cent it was always going to be tough. Cristiano has done very little speed work over the past few days. The most important thing is that he played to help us. He worked extremely hard and we are happy."

Ancelotti is especially happy that his side are coming to the boil at the right time of the season.

Their last two games have seen them beat Barca to the Copa and then get the edge on Bayern.

"In terms of teamwork, our last two have been our best two games of the season. This team plays with a lot of enthusiasm. Sometimes we're better, sometimes we're worse but we're always enthusiastic. The environment is also really positive," he added.

Opponents Osasuna will be hoping that Madrid are already thinking of Bayern.

They are three points clear of the relegation zone going into the weekend's fixtures and know that they could be involved in a real struggle if they fail to leave the capital without a point.

Despite that, they are treating it as as nothing-to-lose affair.

Defender Alejandro Arribas said: "It's best not to look at the last few results of the teams that have been to the Bernabeu, otherwise you won't want to get off the bus.

"You expect Real Madrid to beat you at their place. We know it's going to be very difficult, but you always go there with the hope you can get something, with nothing to lose."

Osasuna were recently beaten 7-0 by Barcelona and Arribas added: "The fewer goals they score against us, the better.

"We are competing on goal difference with Almeria, and that's very important. We cannot allow what happened at the Nou Camp to occur again."