Real Madrid feeling the heat in tight LaLiga title race
Real Madrid remains in the driving seat in LaLiga's title race, but has allowed Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to close in.
Madrid faces Osasuna on Sunday with 50 points to its name, one point ahead of Atleti, with third-placed Barcelona another point back and firmly in an enthralling title race.
After a few weeks of struggle for Barca in LaLiga while missing talisman Lamine Yamal with an injury, the Blaugrana are now on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Barca took advantage of Madrid's 1-0 loss at lowly Espanyol followed by a 1-1 draw with Atleti in the derby last week to get right back in contention.
Madrid, buoyed by its last-gasp Champions League win over Manchester City, has been left with little margin for error in a critical moment of the season as it eyes three major titles while battling with several injuries suffered by key defensive players.
With Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao out for the season and Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez still recovering from leg muscle injuries, Ancelotti is expected to keep playing midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde at the back as he improvises with a depleted defence.
Carlo Ancelotti has not lost any of his nine matches against Osasuna in LaLiga (W6 D3); against no other opponent has he managed more games without defeat in the competition (level with Real Betis – G9 W5 D4).
Indeed, Madrid has won its last four games against Osasuna in LaLiga, scoring four goals in each of the last three. Title challengers Atletico host Celta Vigo, also on Sunday, while Barcelona faces Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone's Atleti was left to lament its missed chances in last weekend's draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Atleti paid the price as it left the door open for Kylian Mbappe to equalise in the second half.
Barca, meanwhile, has scored 24 in its last six competitive matches, 13 of those in three league games, with Robert Lewandowski LaLiga's top scorer with 19 goals.
