Osasuna vs Real Madrid Prediction: Both teams to score at Estadio El Sadar

The reigning Spanish and European champions play in the blackout period on Saturday afternoon, so those looking for Real Madrid's trip to Osasuna will need to stream it via Premier Sports Player from 15:15.

Our Madrid-based football expert Mark Sochon is the man who got the call to preview this one as he takes us through his Osasuna vs Real Madrid predictions in his full match preview for Betfred Insights...

*You can check out all of the Football Odds we offer over at betfred.com

There's a weekend trip to Osasuna for Real Madrid in La Liga, sandwiched in between the two legs of their Champions League tie against Manchester City.  

That will present some selection dilemmas for Carlo Ancelotti as he looks to balance keeping players fresh for the second leg against City, against the need for three points in the tightest of Spanish title races.  

Just two points separates the top three now. Real Madrid still top the table, but their advantage is not what it was, following a defeat at Espanyol and a home draw in the derby against Atlético last weekend.  

On many levels though, Ancelotti will be a happier man than he was heading into February. Young defender Raúl Asencio has really stepped up and performed well on the big stage, suggesting Real Madrid's considerable selection problems at the back are not quite as alarming as they first appeared.  

With the exception of the first half against Atleti last weekend, the last two matches have also seen Real Madrid play better than had been the case in their previous big games this season.  

They looked strong in the second half of the derby, and could have won that game, while Los Blancos also really delivered at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. While City are currently far from the force that has given the Spanish champions their toughest European tests in recent years, this was still a performance and result that has got many of Real Madrid's doubters this season believing again.  

Late goals from Brahim Díaz and Jude Bellingham sealed a 3-2 win, in a match which saw Madrid become the first visiting team in the Pep Guardiola era to have 20 attempts on goal at the Etihad.  

If they can find a similar level in Pamplona on Saturday, they should have enough to pick up the three points, but this is by no means an easy fixture for the league leaders.  

Osasuna have won 50% of their matches at El Sadar this term in La Liga, losing only twice. They were the first team to take points off Barcelona, with a memorable 4-2 victory back in September, and Vicente Moreno will be plotting another famous upset this weekend.  

Their electric winger Bryan Zaragoza was on the very top of his game against Barça, but a fractured metatarsal for the Bayern Munich loanee in early December, resulting in a lengthy spell on the sidelines, contributed to a downturn in Osasuna's fortunes around the turn of the year.  

A 4-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu a few weeks prior to that was the start of a nine-game winless run in the league. They did draw six of those matches, so it wasn't as though the wheels completely came off, but it was a period that did significant damage to their European prospects.  

Osasuna fans will be hoping their team has turned the corner now though. That winless streak came to an end thanks to a 2-1 victory over local rivals Real Sociedad in their last home game. Ante Budimir bagged both the goals, with the Croatian moving onto 12 for the season in the Spanish top flight. Only Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappé and Raphinha have scored more. 

They also performed quite well at Mallorca on Monday night, with Zaragoza back in the starting lineup for the first time in more than two months. It was a game they had enough chances to win, but in the end they needed a 94th minute strike from centre-back Flavien Boyomo just to salvage a point.  

Team News:  

Boyomo also picked up a booking in Palma, meaning he's suspended for this game, with Jorge Herrando expected to take his place in defence. Otherwise, it could be an unchanged lineup for the hosts, with no other selection problems for Moreno right now.  

By contrast, Real Madrid are likely to make a few changes from the side that won in Manchester. Luka Modrić could rotate into the midfield, while Rodrygo is perhaps due a rest having clocked up nearly 900 minutes of football already in 2025. Brahim and Arda Güler are pushing for starts. 

At the back though, Ancelotti's rotation options are much more limited. Fran García is likely to come in for Ferland Mendy at left-back. The rest of the backline could be unchanged, with Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez missing again due to injuries.   

Osasuna vs Real Madrid Odds 

Osasuna are priced at 9/2 to win this game and add Real Madrid to their list of scalps at El Sadar this term. The visitors are the 4/7 favourites, while you can back the Draw at 16/5, a winning bet in seven of Osasuna's last 10 league games.  

If you're feeling good about the home team's chances, you can also back Osasuna or Draw at 13/10 in the Double Chance market. Meanwhile, the hosts are priced at 7/4 to win either half.  

Punters might be interested to note that all of the away team's last 13 victories in all competitions have come in games with three or more goals. You can back Real Madrid and Over 2.5 goals at 6/5 here, while Real Madrid and Both teams to score is priced at 15/8.  

Over 2.5 away goals is available at 7/4, while you can back Mbappé to score anytime at 19/20. Given his recent suspensions in league and cup, Vinícius Júnior is less likely to be rested than Rodrygo, and he's priced at 13/10 to score anytime. 

From a home perspective, Budimir is by far the most obvious goal threat. The experienced striker has netted 43% of his team's league goals and the Osasuna frontman is available at 11/2 to score first here, and 8/5 to score anytime. 

Bet 1 - Both teams to score @ 4/6 

Osasuna have scored in every single home game this season. That has to serve as a warning to this under-strength Real Madrid defence that they may be in for a relatively busy afternoon. 

With Zaragoza back, the hosts are certainly capable of striking on the break, while Budimir's aerial superiority could also be a weapon that Osasuna look to utilise as regularly as possible. 

Real Madrid did manage to rattle in four goals in the reverse fixture though, and with Osasuna also missing one of their two regular centre-backs, there should certainly be goals in this for the visitors and I'm backing Both teams to score at 4/6. 

Bet 2 - Ante Budimir 1+ shots on target & Jude Bellingham 1+ shots on target @ 5/4 

Only three players are averaging more aerial challenges won per game in La Liga this term than Budimir, and it's likely he'll be the target when it comes to crosses into the box, be that from open play or set-piece situations. He's handy enough with the ball at his feet too, and he's likely to at least test Thibaut Courtois at some point in this game. 

At the other end of the pitch, Bellingham should have a big role to play. Even with Vinícius and Mbappé both starting in recent tches, Ancelotti appears to have tweaked the system so the Englishman's attacking threat is less stifled by the presence of those two. The midfielder has had five attempts in each of his last two league games, while he hit the target with two of his three shots at the Etihad. 

As a result, I'm using the Bet Builder to back Ante Budimir 1+ shots on target and Jude Bellingham 1+ shots on target at 5/4 here.