MY ACCOUNT
– Real Madrid have kept clean sheets in six of their last 10 games
– Osasuna have failed to score in six of their last 11
– Recommended bet: Real Madrid to win to zero
Real Madrid have been no match for Barcelona in the LaLiga title race this season, so their hopes of securing domestic silverware rest on Saturday’s Copa del Rey final with Osasuna.
This has been a cup competition to forget for Real in recent years with Carlo Ancelotti’s men bidding to win the trophy for the first time since 2014.
Many will be expecting Real to record a routine victory over Osasuna and end their nine-year wait for a Copa del Rey success, especially given they have already defeated Villarreal, fierce city rivals Atletico and Barcelona in order to make the final.
However, Osasuna, who sit ninth in LaLiga, are stubborn opponents and they are well-deserving of their place in the final having overcome Real Betis, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao en route.
Real do have Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Manchester City on the horizon but, even so, should have enough quality to be celebrating in Seville.
Team news
Ancelotti was able to rest star forward Karim Benzema for Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Real Sociedad, so Osasuna may be fearing the worst with the free-scoring Frenchman set to return.
Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric, who turns 38 in September, has missed Real’s last two matches so there must be some doubt about his inclusion, while full-back Ferland Mendy remains out.
Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga will also be back after serving suspensions last time out, but David Alaba is unlikely to feature having missed the last four matches through injury.
As for Osasuna, Darko Brasanac is out for the season with a serious knee injury but Nacho Vidal and David Garcia could be ready to return.
Jon Moncayola was suspended for Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Barcelona but can play in the final, with Kike Garcia, Juan Cruz, Aridane Hernandez and Moi Gomez also likely to return to the starting line-up having been rested in midweek.
The stats
Benzema has struck 29 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions Los Blancos this season.
Third-placed Real Madrid are six places and 22 points above Osasuna in the LaLiga standings and they were 2-0 winners on their trip to Estadio El Sadar in February.
Real Madrid had to wait until a 78th-minute strike from Federico Valverde to get up-and-running in that victory.
With Osasuna also earning a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in October, Ancelotti will be well aware they should not be underestimated.
Jagoba Arrasate’s team have had an excellent season but they have won only three of their last 11 games and have suffered back-to-back defeats to nil against Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
Prediction
With only 29 goals scored in 33 league games, Osasuna boast the joint third-worst attack in LaLiga and Chimy Avila is their leading scorer with only eight goals in 31 appearances.
Their best hope of victory will be to frustrate their opponents and hit them on the counter-attack, but they have failed to score in six of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Their lack of firepower is unlikely to cut it against Real, who have kept clean sheets in six of their last 10 games, so one goal may be enough to win this final.
Osasuna have conceded more than two goals just once in all competitions this season, so Real are unlikely to win by a big margin but they can still triumph with a clean sheet.
Back Real Madrid to win to zero, available at 21/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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