Madrid's Four Absences Set stage for La Liga Showdown with Osasuna
20 February 2026
Match Preview
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa unveiled his squad for the trip to Osasuna, scheduled for Saturday in La Liga’s 25th round. After a tense week that saw Madrid briefly snatch top spot from Barcelona courtesy of a 4-1 victory at Real Sociedad, Los Blancos arrive at El Sadar aiming to extend their lead. Barcelona’s late slip to Girona keeps the title race tightly poised as the season heads toward its final stretch.
Absence Notes
Absent from the Madrid list are Éder Militão, Din Hoysin, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes, four names sidelined by injury or selection decisions. The rest of the squad mixes seasoned veterans with promising youngsters across defense, midfield, and attack, signaling a plan to keep attacks sharp while shoring up the back line on the road.
La Liga Standings Context
Osasuna will be keen to test Madrid’s resilience, but Real Madrid still sit on 60 points and hold first place following last round’s results. A win away from home would consolidate momentum as the title race tightens with time running out.
Punchline: If Madrid win, the trophy cabinet might finally demand a bigger shelf. Punchline 2: If not, don’t worry—the calendar already has more dates than their defense does this season.
