Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior canceled out the Osasuna defense to send Real Madrid 10 on top
Osasuna 1-4 Real Madrid
Real Madrid will go into the international break with a healthy lead at the top of the table as they sealed a comfortable win at Osasuna, meaning Girona will need to beat Getafe to close the gap to seven. Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde were in inspired form, leading Carlo Ancelotti's charge.
The Brazilian robbed defender Alejandro Catena just three minutes in and slotted past Sergio Herrera for an early opener, but Osasuna hit back after another three minutes. Keeping a corner alive at the back post, Ante Budimir grabbed his 14th goal of the League season to level things.
Osasuna were vulnerable throughout, and only a good save from Herrera stopped Vinicius after he broke the offside trap again in the 10th minute. A brilliantly crafted goal in the 17th minute would give Los Blancos the comeback, with Brahim Diaz stretching the ball over the defence. Fede Valverde controlled on the thigh and volleyed towards the penalty spot, where Dani Carvajal invented a finish with the outside of the foot sliced into the top corner for his fifth goal of the season.
Aurelien Tchouameni had started at center again ahead of Nacho Fernandez, and was solid, but Osasuna threatened an equaliser, Andriy Lunin getting down well to make three good saves, two from Jose Arnaiz.
In the second half however, Real Madrid took control and exploited Osasuna's high line again. Valverde slipped the ball behind the Osasuna defense just past the hour mark, which saw Brahim Diaz race back and finish with composure. The match was over a few minutes later when Antonio Rudiger's off-the-ball boot found Valverde behind. He cushioned it into the path of Vinicius, who rolled it into the other corner around Herrera after driving it into the goal.
Herrera would make two more good saves from Vinicius and Rodrygo in the following moments. Osasuna would grab a consolation goal through Iker Munoz, who whipped a pull-back from the right side through the legs of Lunin in stoppage time. Arda Guler only had a few minutes on the field, but he was inches away from perhaps the goal of the season, cracking across from halfway with Herrera beaten.
Real Madrid enter the international break feeling good about their boss and looking good at El Sadar. Hi remain 10th for now, and after conceding four to Real Madrid in their two games this season, Jagoba Arrasate could rethink the top line for next year.
