Real Madrid may need a supporting player to step up against Osasuna and help the champions keep up the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona, amid doubts over Karim Benzema’s fitness.
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Victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday against Elche cut Barcelona’s lead to eight points and Madrid could go into Saturday’s draw.
With the Catalans out of action until Sunday against Cadiz after their Europa League draw with Manchester United, Madrid could move to within five points of the leaders.
France forward Benzema returned from injury to help Real Madrid win the Club World Cup last weekend and then scored a brace from the penalty spot in midweek against Elche.
Ballon d’Or winner Benzema suffered an early stoppage through injury, missing France’s World Cup campaign and subsequently retiring from international duty.
The 35-year-old striker has only managed to play in 13 of Madrid’s 21 league games this season, scoring 11 goals, but reports in Spain suggest he is unlikely to make the move to Pamplona.
Vinicius Junior will return after suspension and along with Rodrygo, Marcos Asensio and Fede Valverde, coach Carlo Ancelotti has more attacking options if Benzema is kept in cotton ahead of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Liverpool next week.
Benzema returned from a thigh problem to score against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup final in Morocco, then moved on to 230 goals in La Liga against Elche, making him the fifth top scorer in Spain’s top flight.
Madrid played Al Ahly in the semi-final without Benzema and won 4-1, with Vinicius, Valverde, Rodrygo and young striker Sergio Arribas all scoring.
“For me (Rodrygo) is a complete player, he can play in any position in attack, on the left, on the right, through the middle,” Ancelotti said.
“He’s different from Vinicius… but he’s as strong as ‘Vini’ when he takes players one-on-one. We’re lucky we have both.”
Vinicius shined in the Club World Cup, winning the player of the tournament award, a blessing in disguise in La Liga.
In his previous league appearance he was fouled 10 times in the 1-0 defeat by Mallorca, with defenders constantly chasing him and Osasuna may have given him the same treatment.
If Benzema does not play, despite the various attacking options that Madrid have, the hosts will have the chance to cause trouble, especially when Madrid will come to Anfield.
Osasuna, ninth, are winless in four games in La Liga, but their supporters tend to create a ferocious atmosphere when they battle the league giants.
Player to watch: Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid’s Slovenian goalkeeper hasn’t been at his best this season, but Oblak made a string of saves last weekend to earn his side a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo. Athletic Bilbao visit the Metropolitano on Sunday in a tough test and Oblak could be key again.
6 – Pedri has scored six league goals for Barcelona this season, matching his total in his first two campaigns.
Key statistics
5 – Since the World Cup, Real Sociedad’s Alexander Sorloth and Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet are the division’s top scorers with five goals each.
60 – Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia has created more chances than any other player this season in La Liga
Timetable (GMT)
Friday
Girona v Almeria (2000)
Saturday
Real Sociedad v Celta Vigo (1300), Real Betis v Valladolid (1515), Mallorca v Villarreal (1730), Osasuna v Real Madrid (2000)
Week
Elche v Espanyol (1300), Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla (1515), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (1830), Barcelona v Cadiz (2000)
Monday
Getafe v Valencia (2000)