Real Madrid vs Osasuna: Back Blancos to Continue Perfect Start

• Real Madrid are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues with a 100 percent record
• Osasuna have also made a bright start to the 2022/23 season under Jagoba Arrasate
• Real Madrid will have too much quality for their opponents as La Liga returns

Real Madrid vs Osasuna Odds

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Real Madrid vs Osasuna Pick

Osasuna’s promising start has come despite a lack of goals, so the Blancos will fancy their chances of registering a clean sheet in this one.

Back Real Madrid to win to nil this weekend (+125)

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Flawless Real Madrid Have Had Dream Start to New Season

Six games into the 2022/23 La Liga season and Carlo Ancelotti could not have asked for a better start. Real Madrid, the defending champions and title favorites, sit at the summit of the standings as club soccer gets set to return after a break for the Nations League and other international fixtures. There are other excellent teams across the continent – Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Manchester City in the Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 – but los Blancos are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues with a 100 percent record still intact.

Their most recent triumph was the sweetest yet. Madrid, in truth, were not really tested in their first five matches. Real Betis are a fine team but Ancelotti’s side were still strong favorites for that clash at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Meanwhile Almeria, Celta Vigo, Espanyol and Real Mallorca are the type of teams that Madrid, with their financial advantage, ought to be beating without too much trouble. Yet the same cannot be said for Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s side did not go into the derby in sparkling form, but they were nevertheless ready to make life difficult for their cross-city rivals. It was a typically tight encounter but, not for the first time, Madrid got the details right in both boxes to emerge victorious. The main story to emerge from the 2-1 win was the racist chants directed towards Vinicius Junior, so the impressive nature of Madrid’s victory was somewhat overshadowed in the aftermath.

It will be hard for Ancelotti’s side to improve on last term, when they won the Champions League as well as the La Liga title (but not the Copa del Rey). Still, the way Madrid are playing it would be foolish to bet against them.

Osasuna Punching Above Weight in Early Weeks of Campaign

Osasuna will also be pleased with their start to the season. Madrid’s upcoming opponents head into the weekend in fifth place, above the likes of Atletico, Villarreal, Sevilla and Valencia. They have won four of their first six matches, although their last outing before the international break produced a 2-0 home defeat by Getafe to knock Osasuna out of the top four.

Osasuna have become the archetypal mid-table team in La Liga. In 2019/20 they finished 10th. In 2020/21 they came 11th. Last term, they were back up to 10th again. Osasuna have seldom troubled the qualification spots for the Europa League or the Europa Conference League, but nor have they been troubled by relegation worries. Jagoba Arrasate’s side have largely flown under the radar – and that suits the club down to the ground.

In La Liga, only Diego Simeone has been in his managerial role longer than Arrasate, who has given Osasuna some much-needed stability after a spell in the Segunda Division. The 44-year-old will view this match as a free hit with all the pressure on Madrid rather than his side. Even so, this is a tough assignment for Osasuna, who have benefited from having four of their first six matches this term at home.

Real Madrid Can Extend Winning Streak on Matchday Seven

It is a sign that things are going well for Real Madrid that the return to fitness of Karim Benzema has left Ancelotti facing a conundrum. The France international was not overly missed by the Spanish and European champions during his recent injury absence, but he remains Madrid’s best player alongside Luka Modric and his probable availability for this game is a boost. The question is who he should replace in the starting line-up.

Rodrygo might ordinarily be the obvious choice, but he has been playing well of late. So too has Fede Valverde, whose reputation seems to grow with each passing performance. Vinicius is a guaranteed starter these days, so it could be that Ancelotti begins with Benzema on the bench on Sunday, especially as Madrid have an especially packed schedule over the next few weeks, before the 2022 World Cup.

Whichever front three Ancelotti opts for, Madrid should prove too strong for Osasuna. Despite their lofty position in the table, only six teams have scored fewer goals than the Rojillos so far. Surprisingly, Madrid are still awaiting their first clean sheet of the season, but this could be the match where they get it. Back a home win to nil on Sunday.

How to Watch Real Madrid vs Osasuna